Skip to main content

NASA Flies First Drone Ever on Another Planet

By Patrick J. Paul On April 19, 2021, America’s civil space program – the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made history when its Mars Ingenuity helicopter made the first ever powered, controlled flight on another planet.  With it, the once comical world of the Jetsons becomes increasingly real. The solar-powered helicopter first became airborne […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , ,

FAA Approves Fully Automated Commercial Drone Flights

By Patrick J. Paul On January 14, the Federal Aviation Administration approved the first fully automated commercial drone flights by granting Massachusetts-based American Robotics, Inc. permission to operate drones without hands-on piloting and “beyond-visual-line-of-site” (BVLOS) through January 31, 2023. Weighing less than 20 pounds, American Robotics’ Scout drones utilize acoustic technology to detect and avoid […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , , ,

Friend or Foe Drones: FAA to Require Remote ID “Digital License Plate”

by Kelly A. Daly On December 28, 2020, the FAA released the Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Final Rule. This long-awaited Remote ID rule, identified as the next incremental step to integrating drones into the National Airspace System, requires the broadcasting of drone information that is crucial for airspace awareness, accountability, safety and security. Drone operators […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , ,
KD

FAA Issues Drone Guidance for COVID-19 Response

by Patrick Paul As the case for drone use to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic, whether to enforce social distancing guidelines, announce current developments, or deliver needed medical and food supplies, grows internationally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on April 14, 2020, announced the enabling of drone use for COVID-19 response efforts within the […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , , , , , ,

Drone Delivery Systems Can Aid Coronavirus Relief

by Patrick J. Paul As COVID-19 continues its spread across the U.S. and globe and governments react with historic aid measures, social distance and stay at home orders, it seems opportunities for accelerated drone deployment to help with the COVID-19 spread in the U.S. may be missed.  Drones can reduce human involvement in the supply […]

| 3 min read | Tagged: , , , ,

COVID-19 Drones to the Rescue: an Opportunity to Shine

by Kelly A. Daly Around the world, drone enthusiasts are mobilizing to demonstrate the numerous benefits that Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS” or “drones”) technology can offer during this COVID-19 pandemic. Equipped with beacons, spotlights, visual and thermal cameras, specialized sensors and computer vision systems, so-called “pandemic drones” can remotely detect sneezing and coughing and can […]

| 3 min read | Tagged: , , , ,
KD

Drone Deployment to Combat COVID-19

by Patrick J. Paul As the world faces an unprecedented pandemic with the rapid spread of the coronavirus, drones are being increasingly deployed to assist in the response. From delivery, to disinfectant, to photography, the use of drones in this crisis continues to grow as emergency responders and food and medical supply delivery companies attempt […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , , , ,

FAA to Limit Restrictions on Drone Use Near Federal Facilities

by Patrick J. Paul On August 29, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it was working with other federal agencies to reduce the impact of flight restrictions imposed on drone operators flying in close proximity to certain federal facilities. In particular, the FAA announced that it is working with the Department of Defense to create […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , , , ,

Drones and Forest Fires – Leave It to the Pros

by Patrick J. Paul Wildfire season is in full swing with at least 19 active fires burning across Arizona according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM).  There are multiple other prescribed or controlled fires also presently burning across the state. While the moisture from the monsoon season, which officially began on June […]

| 3 min read | Tagged: , , , , ,

FAA Announces Recreational Drone Rules

by Patrick J. Paul On May 17, 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice implementing the statutory exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft or drones necessitated by the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act, which repealed Section 336 of the prior Reauthorization that had sheltered recreational drones from regulation. Federal Aviation Administration Notice, […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , , ,