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Tag: drone

  • Amazon Unveils Next-Gen Drone for Deliveries

    Amazon Unveils Next-Gen Drone for Deliveries

    Amazon has announced a new drone for deliveries, the MK30, offering a slew of improvements over its predecessor.

    Amazon has been investing in drone deliveries in an effort to improve customer service, improve delivery speed, and reduce costs. The company plans to introduce the MK30 in 2024 in areas where it is testing its drone delivery program.

    The company outlined the benefits of the new model in a blog post:

    We’re now introducing our next generation delivery drone: the MK30. Due to come into service in 2024, this drone will be lighter and smaller than the MK27-2, the drone that will be making deliveries in Lockeford and College Station. The MK30’s increased range, expanded temperature tolerance, safety-critical features, and new capability to fly in light rain will enable customers to choose drone delivery more often.

    The company has also worked to reduce the noise profile of the new drone, so as not to disturb customers and neighborhoods:

    Reducing the noise signature of our drones is an important engineering challenge that our team is working on. Our drones fly hundreds of feet in the air, well above people and structures. Even when they descend to deliver packages, our drones are generally quieter than a range of sounds you would commonly hear in a typical neighborhood. Still, Prime Air’s Flight Science team has created new custom-designed propellers that will reduce the MK30’s perceived noise by another 25%. That’s a game-changer, and we’re very excited about it.

  • FCC Wants to Ban Chinese Drone Maker, Dubbed ‘Huawei on Wings’

    FCC Wants to Ban Chinese Drone Maker, Dubbed ‘Huawei on Wings’

    FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is calling for a review of Chinese drone maker DJI, saying it is potentially “Huawei on wings.”

    Huawei is one of several Chinese firms banned by the US over national security concerns. The US has pressured allies to do the same, with many following suit. Commissioner Carr is concerned DJI may represent a similar threat.

    “DJI drones and the surveillance technology on board these systems are collecting vast amounts of sensitive data—everything from high-resolution images of critical infrastructure to facial recognition technology and remote sensors that can measure an individual’s body temperature and heart rate,” Commissioner Carr stated. “Security researchers have also found that DJI’s software applications collect large quantities of personal information from the operator’s smartphone that could be exploited by Beijing. Indeed, one former Pentagon official stated that ‘we know that a lot of the information is sent back to China from’ DJI drones.”

    Carr also expressed concern over DJI helping Beijing surveil the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, a group the Chinese government has been persecuting with forced labor, forced sterilizations and genocide.

    “DJI’s collection of vast troves of sensitive data is especially troubling given that China’s National Intelligence Law grants the Chinese government the power to compel DJI to assist it in espionage activities. In fact, the Commerce Department placed DJI on its Entity List last year, citing DJI’s role in Communist China’s surveillance and abuse of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Add to this information the widespread use of DJI drones by various state and local public safety and law enforcement agencies as well as news reports that the U.S. Secret Service and FBI recently bought DJI drones, and the need for quick action on the potential national security threat is clear.

    Carr concluded by saying the FCC should add DJI to the Covered List.

    “After all, the evidence against DJI has been mounting for years, and various components of the U.S. government have taken a range of independent actions—including grounding fleets of DJI drones based on security concerns. Yet a consistent and comprehensive approach to addressing DJI’s potential threats is not in place. That is why the FCC should take the necessary steps to consider adding DJI to our Covered List. We do not need an airborne version of Huawei. As part of the FCC’s review—and in consultation with national security agencies—we should also consider whether there are additional entities that warrant closer scrutiny by the FCC.”

  • AT&T’s Tethered ‘Flying COWs’ Providing Internet in Hurricane-Hit Areas

    AT&T’s Tethered ‘Flying COWs’ Providing Internet in Hurricane-Hit Areas

    AT&T is using its Flying COWs (Cell on Wings) drones to provide connectivity in hurricane-hit areas, such as Louisiana.

    AT&T unveiled its Flying Cows some time ago, and followed up the initial model with a weather-hardened variant. The drones are designed to stay aloft indefinitely, thanks to being tethered to a cable that provides power and secure fiber connectivity.

    This setup allows AT&T to provide individuals with phone and internet service, even when the local infrastructure has been interrupted or destroyed. AT&T even designed the weather-hardened variant with thermal imaging, useful in helping first responders locate individuals in need of help.

    Plus, with its thermal imaging capabilities, the all-weather drone can “see” through certain types of roofs to guide fire fighters around burning trusses, helping them to avoid stepping in areas that may be ready to collapse. 

    According to Business Insider, AT&T is using the Flying COWs in Louisiana, in the wake of Hurricane Ida. The drones are helping keep friends and family connected and illustrate just how important drones have become in a range of industries and sectors.

  • France Testing Anti-Drone Laser System for 2024 Olympics

    France Testing Anti-Drone Laser System for 2024 Olympics

    The French military is testing a laser-powered anti-drone system it hopes can be used to protect the 2024 Olympics.

    Once used primarily for entertainment and photography, drones are taking on new roles as they become more advanced. Companies are using them for deliveries, and militaries around the world are relying on them more and more. Unfortunately, that also means drones can pose a threat to events such as the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

    The French military is turning to laser technology to shoot down drones, successfully completing a test off of the Atlantic coast, according to Reuters.

    “We aim to have a fully operational system in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics”, a ministry spokesperson said.

    “We need to adapt to a constantly changing threat and the increasing ability of drones to escape jamming devices or conventional missile shields.”

    The prototype laser cannon is one million times more powerful than the lasers in a QR reader, can detect a commercial drone up to 3 km away and shoot it down once it’s within 1 km.

  • Google Looking to Use Drones to Fight Wildfires

    Google Looking to Use Drones to Fight Wildfires

    Google is looking to use drones in an innovative way, with plans to fight wildfires with them.

    Drones are one of the fastest-growing industries, being used for deliveries, surveillance, real estate, recreation and more. Google may be on the verge of using them for one of the most unique, and arguably important, role yet.

    According to a Federal Register (PDF) notice Google is seeking permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test drones for fire-fighting.

    Google Research Climate and Energy Group (Google Research) seeks relief to operate the HSE-UAV M8A Pro unmanned aircraft system, weighing over 55 pounds (lbs.) but no more than 98.8 lbs., for testing fire-fighting and monitoring operations with first person view technology located at a confined private property in Firebaugh, California.

    Should the FAA give Google permission to proceed, drones could become an important element in the growing fight against yearly wildfires. Drones could be especially helpful in monitoring vulnerable forests and serving as an early warning system for a fraction of the cost involved in using planes or helicopters.

  • American Robotics First Company Approved For Automated Drone Flights

    American Robotics First Company Approved For Automated Drone Flights

    American Robotics has become the first company authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly automated drones.

    The drone industry is exploding, with companies large and small looking to the craft for retail delivery, agriculture, security, inspections, search and rescue, surveying and more. A big milestone toward the growth of the industry, however, is approval for automated flights, without on-site human operators.

    American Robotics is now the first company to receive that authorization. The company specializes in developing fully autonomous drones, featuring the company’s Scout System, with advanced acoustic Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) technology. As a result, the company’s drones maintain a safe distance from other aircraft.

    “With these approvals, American Robotics is ushering in a new era of widespread automated drone operations,” said Reese Mozer, CEO and co-founder of American Robotics. “Decades worth of promise and projection are finally coming to fruition. We are proud to be the first company to meet the FAA’s comprehensive safety requirements, which had previously restricted the viability of drone use in the commercial sector. We are very grateful for the FAA’s willingness to work closely with American Robotics over the past four years on this precedent-setting authorization. With this set of approvals, American Robotics can begin safely operating our automated Scout platform for the benefit of the energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and security market verticals, helping unlock the projected $100 billion commercial drone market.”

    During the testing period, the company’s drones showed the impact they could have on both industry and agriculture.

    “Our interest in American Robotics’ technology started with the desire to have a drone imagery solution that was reliable, scalable, and executed with minimal human resources,” said Lance Ruppert, Director of Agronomy Marketing and Technology at Growmark, Inc., a leading U.S. grower cooperative. “This technology, along with the FAA approvals to operate it without humans on the ground, is key to making drones a widespread reality in our industry. This is a game changer.”

    American Robotics’ approval is good news for the drone industry and is sure to be just the first of many.

  • CES 2021: Verizon’s Skyward and UPS Collaborating On Drone Deliveries

    CES 2021: Verizon’s Skyward and UPS Collaborating On Drone Deliveries

    Verizon used CES 2021 to announce its Skyward drone company will be collaborating with UPS Flight Forward for retail deliveries.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently took important steps toward making drone deliveries a reality. It’s no surprise that UPS is quickly moving to ensure it can provide the service to its customers, and is collaborating with Skyward to make it happen.

    “We will need the ability to manage and support multiple drones, flying simultaneously, dispatched from a centralized location, operating in a secure and safe environment. To do this at scale, alongside Verizon and Skyward, we’ll need the power of 5G,” said Carol B. Tomé, CEO of UPS.

    “We’re just beginning to see how the power of 5G Ultra Wideband will transform the way businesses operate,” said Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer at Verizon. “By partnering with UPS and other innovative companies, we can learn from each other’s expertise and collaborate to create solutions that help move the world forward.”

    UPS has already had more than 3,800 drone delivery flights. With the global pandemic, however, drone deliveries have become more important than ever and are widely seen as a way to deliver products in a safe way. The rapid increase in demand is no doubt responsible for UPS working with Skyward.

    The drones will stay connected and be controlled via Verizon’s 4G LTE network, as well as its 5G network where possible.

  • Unmanned Drones Cleared For Night Flight and Flight Over People

    Unmanned Drones Cleared For Night Flight and Flight Over People

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has passed new rules allowing drones to fly at night and fly over people.

    Drones represent the single fastest-growing segment in the transportation sector, although the lack of clear regulation has slowed full adoption. The FAA has now addressed two of these issues, passing rules that should pave the way for more widespread drone usage.

    The first change is that the FAA will now require Remote Identification (Remote ID) for drones. Remote ID will help integrate drones with the national airspace system by providing a way to identify them and their control station locations.

    The second major change is allowing drones to be flown at night, as well as over people. While these kind of operations are currently allowed, they’re only allowed with a waiver from the FAA. With the new rules, drone operations will have increased flexility to perform these kind of operations without a waiver.

    “The new rules make way for the further integration of drones into our airspace by addressing safety and security concerns,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “They get us closer to the day when we will more routinely see drone operations such as the delivery of packages.”

  • Chinese Drone Maker DJI Faces Uncertain Future As It Faces US Blacklist

    Chinese Drone Maker DJI Faces Uncertain Future As It Faces US Blacklist

    Chinese drone maker DJI is the latest company added to the US trade blacklist, throwing its future into uncertain territory.

    The US and China have been locked in a costly trade war, one that has involved casualties on both sides. The US has blacklisted Huawei and ZTE, claiming the telecom companies represent a threat to national security.

    Now the US has added DJI to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List, according to Digital Trends. Being on the Entity List means that US companies can’t do business with DJI without a special license. The US is concerned about data Chinese companies could collect on US citizens, as well as drone technology being used in China’s persecution of ethnic minorities.

    DJI says customers can still purchase its drones, as being on the Entity List primarily impacts the company’s ability to sell to other businesses.

  • Hybrid Drone Stays Aloft Over 10 Hours, Breaking Record

    Hybrid Drone Stays Aloft Over 10 Hours, Breaking Record

    Quaternium Technologies has broken its own record for the longest drone flight, with its hybrid drone staying in the air for 10 hours, 14 minutes.

    Drones are an increasingly important component for many industries. Real estate agents use them to take pictures of properties, photographers use them to capture that perfect shot, and Amazon and other companies are preparing to use them for deliveries. Some people are even using drones to fish for tuna.

    Quaternium’s latest development will open up all-new possibilities, as their latest test flight achieved 10 hours, 14 minutes by using hybrid technology.

    Marketed as a “long-endurance drone,” the commercial version of the Hybrix 2.1 currently provides 4 hours of operational time. Even with a full payload, it can stay aloft for over 2 hours. The company markets the drone as the perfect option for surveillance, first response, inspection, mining, agriculture and mapping.

    It’s a safe bet Quaternium will use the lessons it learned from its record-breaking flight to improve the flight time of its commercial variants even more.

  • Morocco Using Drones to Tackle Coronavirus Pandemic

    Morocco Using Drones to Tackle Coronavirus Pandemic

    In one of the more unusual use cases, Morocco is the latest country to turn to arial drones to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.

    One of the biggest challenges many governments face is trying to enforce social distancing and self-isolation. Together, the two measures have proven to be the most important factor in fighting the spread of the virus but, as the pandemic drags on, people inevitably grow weary of isolation and often start drifting back toward “normal.”

    According to the International Business Times, (IBT) Morocco is using drones to monitor citizens, making sure individuals are practicing social distancing. This includes being used to break up rooftop gatherings and other events that are currently illegal. Drones are even being used to spray disinfectant in an effort to sanitize public areas.

    “There is real demand,” said Abderrahmane Krioual, the head of Farasha, a startup that IBT reports has secured funding for drones that will specialize in arial disinfectant spraying, as well as thermal surveillance.

    This is just the latest example of how technology is being used and repurposed in innovative ways to combat the global pandemic.

  • CES 2020: PowerVision Unveils PowerEgg X Handheld, AI-Driven Drone

    CES 2020: PowerVision Unveils PowerEgg X Handheld, AI-Driven Drone

    PowerVision made a splash at CES 2020 with an innovative drone that is small enough to double as a handheld camera and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its performance.

    PowerVision has long been known for making quality and innovative drones, but the newest model takes some major leaps forward, according to Digital Trends. The PowerEgg X is substantially smaller, fitting in the palm of the hand. Its small size gives it the ability to be used as a handled camera, in addition to being a drone.

    By incorporating AI, the PowerEgg X offers unique abilities. The drone’s camera has built-in facial recondition, which is constantly being improved thanks to deep learning training. The product video shows the camera singling out and focusing on its owner in a group of individuals dancing. This gives the drone the ability to track a subject it has learned, even if they move out of the field of view and back again.

    As a drone, the PowerEgg X has smart follow shooting, landing protection, obstacle avoidance, intelligent return home capability, 3-axis Gimbal stabilization, wind resistance, rain-resistant flight, preprogrammed quick shot flight paths and more.

    The PowerEgg X is an impressive step forward and will likely become a staple of many businesses and professionals that rely on drone photography.

  • Swarms of Drones Appearing in the Colorado/Nebraska Night Sky and Nobody Knows Why

    Swarms of Drones Appearing in the Colorado/Nebraska Night Sky and Nobody Knows Why

    According to the Denver Post, a swarm of drones numbering anywhere from 17 to 30 have been appearing in the night sky above Colorado and Nebraska.

    The drones are roughly six feet across, and have been appearing and disappearing at the same time every night, and stay between 200 and 300 feet off the ground. Based on a statement by Phillips County Sheriff Thomas Elliot, the drones appear to be searching for something or mapping the terrain.

    “They’ve been doing a grid search, a grid pattern,” Elliot told the Denver Post. “They fly one square and then they fly another square.”

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it did not know where the drones came from or who was operating them. Meanwhile, the Air Force, US Army Forces Command and Drug Enforcement Administration all denied the drones were theirs. Given the size and numbers of drones, it seems likely the drones are being flown by a company or agency, as an operation of this size would likely be prohibitive for hobbyists.

    The FAA recently proposed a new rule that would give it the authority to identify and track the majority of drones in the skies. Such a rule would make it much easier for the FAA to know who the drones belong to and exactly what they’re doing.

  • Drone Farmer Arrest Results in 3-Year Sentence

    A North Dakota man has become the first American sentenced to jail time due, in part, to the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (a.k.a. “drone” or UAV).

    The story goes back to 2011, when half a dozen wayward cows wandered onto the property of Rodney Brossart. When asked to return the cattle, he refused and a SWAT team out of Grand Forks, ND, was dispatched to arrest him. But Brossart wouldn’t have it. He and his three sons grabbed guns and hunkered down on the farm, keeping the SWAT team at bay for 16 hours. The authorities had to call in a favor from Homeland Security, which loaned the local police a Predator drone that enabled them to gather information on the Brossarts’ position and eventually subdue them.

    While Brossart was exonerated of the original allegations of cattle theft, he was eventually charged with terroristic threatening of police. He contested the charges on the grounds that use of the drone constituted a warrantless search of his property. Brossart attorney Bruce Quick claimed that the drone was “dispatched without judicial approval or a warrant” and that the further tasing of Brossart in the course of the arrest constituted “guerrilla-like police tactics.” A federal district court disagreed with the drone argument, citing that the UAV had no direct bearing on the charges that Brossart had terrorized police.

    The federal government has owned up to using drones regularly for border patrol and drug enforcement purposes. Even so, a recent report by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a group that opposes drone use for domestic criminal investigations, released a report earlier this month that revealed that the federal government has used the vehicles hundreds of times more than what has gone on the official record. Brossart’s case was the first in which a UAV has been used for municipal law enforcement.

    Brossart was sentenced to three years with only six months of the sentence suspended. His sons were each convicted of misdemeanor charges and sentenced to a year of probation.

    Now we turn to the real question: how did four farmers hold off an entire SWAT team for 16 hours?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • USS Chancellorsville Hit By Drone

    According to ABC News, a United States Navy ship was hit by a drone Monday and had to head back to port.

    The U.S.S. Chancellorsville, a guided missile cruiser named for the site of a Civil War battle, was in the middle of conducting radar tracking tests for drone activities when the accident occurred. The drone was not an enemy craft, but rather was launched by the Chancellorsville herself for the tracking tests.

    According to a U.S. Navy spokesperson from the Third Fleet, Lt. Lenaya Rotklein, the drone was 13 feet long, 1 foot in diameter and had a wingspan of nearly 6 feet. She said the aircraft hit the ships port side – that’s the left for you landlubbers.

    She said that the cause of the accident is still undetermined, but that investigators at the Naval Base San Diego are looking into what might have caused it.

    The drone slammed into the side of the ship, leaving a 2 to 3 foot wide hole in the side of the ship. In the resultant explosion 2 seamen suffered minor burns.

    The use of drones by the United States has been the cause of much concern over the past couple of years, with vocal parties on both sides of the aisle expressing concern over who is targeted and how, particularly by the Obama administration.

    image via: wikimedia commons

  • Colorado Considers Ban on Hunting Drones

    As communities across the country weigh in on how to handle new drone technology used for hunting, Colorado is considering a ban on the use of unmanned aircraft to help sportsmen seek out game.

    Federal law has banned hunting from the air for over 4 decades now, according to Randy Hampton, spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Hampton pointed out that there is an escalation of drone aircraft being manufactured in the U.S., and added, “We want to make it clear what the rules and regulations are with this new technology.”

    Below is a clip of a Parrot AR Drone chasing deer:

    At present, federal law states that a hunting party must wait 48 hours to engage game after a scouting flyover has been conducted, which coincides with a “fair chase” unspoken law that hunters abide by. The emerging drone technology has complicated standing regulations, and Hampton says that a drone ban would be a part of an updated package of new regulations that lawmakers will vote on early next year. Any new laws would go into effect in time for the 2014 hunting season in Colorado. The state rakes in roughly $404 million per annum, via hunting license fees, equipment sales, outfitting and lodging.

    In related news, a small Colorado town called Deer Trail, Colorado, had recently considered an ordinance that would allow hunters in the area to shoot down drones. The town even voted on a bounty for recovered drones. Deer Trail resident, Phillip Steel, who drafted the ordinance, said, “We do not want drones in town. They fly in town, they get shot down.” The FAA went on to quickly point out that shooting a drone out of the sky is obviously a dangerous activity, and is against the law.

    The U.S. military has long used weaponized drones for reconnaissance and battlefield excursions, but now one can buy a little drone at middle-of-the-mall kiosk for relatively cheap.

    These sort of scary RC drones might soon be banned on Colorado hunting trips:

    Still, for now one can only purchase a novelty Deer Trail drone-hunting license, and hope the drones don’t someday become self-aware. “It is a statement, but really just a novelty that could generate interest in the town and bring in some money through festivals or something like that,” town clerk Kim Oldfield said. “It wouldn’t allow people to shoot things out of the sky.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Small Town To Consider Hunting Season On Drones

    KJRH reports that the small town of Deer Trail, Colorado, will be considering an possible ordinance that would allow hunters in the area to shoot down drones. The town council will be voting on the ordinance that would also provide for a bounty when a local licensed hunter shows pieces of a drone he has shot.

    Deer Trail resident, Phillip Steel, drafted the ordinance. “We do not want drones in town,” said Steel. “They fly in town, they get shot down.”

    The proposed ordinance, made possible by only 26 required petition signatures in the small town, reads:

    The Town of Deer Trail shall issue a reward of $100 to any shooter who presents a valid hunting license and the following identifiable parts of an unmanned aerial vehicle whose markings and configuration are consistent with those used on any similar craft known to be owned or operated by the United States federal government.

    When asked if he had ever seen any drones in the area, Steel agreed that he had not, but said, “This is a very symbolic ordinance. Basically, I do not believe in the idea of a surveillance society, and I believe we are heading that way.”

    If the town board were to pass such an ordinance, it would sell “drone hunting licenses” online for $25. And here is where the whole thing goes from symbolic, if not outright silly, to a make-sense money machine.

    “They’ll sell like hot cakes, and it would be a real drone hunting license,” said Steel, “It could be a huge moneymaker for the town.”

    Town board member David Boyd said, “Even if a tiny percentage of people get online (for a) drone license, that’s cool. That’s a lot of money to a small town like us,”said Boyd. “Could be known for it as well, which probably might be a mixed blessing, but what the heck?”

    Deer Trail, Town clerk, Kim Oldfield said, “I can see it as a benefit, monetarily speaking, because of the novelty of the ordinance.”

    It all sounded like a neat little way to make a statement, and maybe make a little money for the town when people all over the country logged on to buy their bona fide Drone Hunting License (valid only in Deer Trail, Colorado). Then the FAA got wind of the plan and issued a statement. The statement said, in part:

    [A drone] hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air. Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in criminal or civil liability, just as would firing at a manned airplane.

  • Drone Crashes Near Florida Highway

    Drone Crashes Near Florida Highway

    A U.S. Air Force drone crashed shortly after takeoff in the Florida panhandle near Tyndall Air Force Base today, forcing the closure of U.S. highway 98.

    The cause of the crash is not yet known, but authorities say that the highway will remain closed for 24 hours. The drone carries a small self-destruct charge designed to bring the plane down if it wanders off its programmed course. The battery attached to that charge runs down after about 24 hours, according to Air Force officials.

    The drone in question is a QF-4, which is a full-sized fighter jet used primarily for testing weapons systems. It belongs to the Air Force’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The QF-4 is an unmanned variant of the old F-4 Phantom II fighter jet. The F-4 was the primary air superiority fighter of both the Air Force and the Navy in the 1960s and 1970s, before being replaced by the F-15 Eagle in the Air Force and the F-14 Tomcat in the Navy. A few F-4s still see active service in the air forces of other countries, but those still owned by the U.S. military are almost exclusively QF-4 drones.

    Witnesses told local media that the drone crashed during takeoff around 8:25 this morning, bursting into flames and sending up a large column of black smoke.

    This is the second drone from Tyndall AFB to be destroyed recently. A week ago another drone was deliberately brought down by Air Force personnel over the Gulf of Mexico. The drone reportedly failed to respond to repeated attempts to land it, and its controllers feared that it could present a danger to civilians, so they steered it out over the gulf and detonated its self-destruct charge.

    Officials say the crash presents no further threat to the local population, and that the closure of the highway is only a precaution until crews can begin recovering the aircraft.

  • FBI Drones in Domestic Surveillance

    FBI Director Robert Mueller made headlines by admitting that the federal government has used drones to surveil residents of the United States.

    Mueller acknowledged that pilotless aircraft with surveillance capabilities were used in a “very minimal way” and only on “particularized cases” with “particularized needs.”

    In the wake of Edward Snowden’s claims about federal telephone surveillance, the capacity of the federal government to keep tabs on citizens is touchy.

    Be that as it may, confirmed reports of drone usage on home turf are rare, the most high-profile instance being against Jimmy Lee Dykes, who shot a 66-year-old bus driver to death and took a kindergartner hostage. Drones were used in part to end the Dykes stand-off.

    Still, the potential of domestic droneage is disconcerting. Lawmakers as politically diverse as Rand Paul (R-KY) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) have expressed dismay at the use of drones, each indicating unease with the potential use of unmanned aircraft to keep tabs on American citizens.

    Even so, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano claims that any domestic drone usage will remain within a “security perspective without invading American’s rights.” Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) issued a statement agreeing with the idea that drones can be the most effective way to monitor domestic legal issues, claiming that “unmanned aerial systems have the potential to more efficiently and effectively perform law enforcement duties.”

    And yet some citizens wonder: When will “law enforcement duties” enforced by drones extend to rolling stops? Scary times, indeed . . .

  • Domino’s Pizza Delivery Service Takes To The Sky

    Domino’s Pizza Delivery Service Takes To The Sky

    Domino’s is pretty far out there as far as marketing goes, and that’s what makes the chain so cool. It was one of the first to really embrace online ordering, and now it’s starting to embrace alternative forms of delivery.

    NBC News reports that Domino’s and creative agency T + Biscuits recently performed a pizza delivery run via drone. The drone is dubbed the “DomiCopter” and it may one day change pizza delivery. In the test below, the drone traveled four miles in 10 minutes.

    Something like this wouldn’t fly in the U.S., but it’s legal in the UK as long as the drone is no more than 126 meters off the ground. The only legal hurdle was that the company had to get permission to fly over the land you see in the video.

    This isn’t the first time pizza has been delivered via drone as a German university students pulled the same stunt last year. Pizza isn’t the only food to be delivered via drone either as TacoCopter captured the nation’s imagination last year when a student tested the idea of delivered tacos via drones to hungry customers in the Bay Area.

    Unfortunately for all of the above, air space regulations make the wide use of drone based delivery almost impossible. Drones are still a very new technology, and the regulations in place don’t play very nice with them. It will still be a while before we look to the sky, instead of our driveway, for our next pizza delivery.

  • Drone Strikes Killed 4 Americans in Last 4 Years

    As drones have become more advanced, the American public has become more aware of the devices. The unmanned flying machines could soon be used by private companies (to deliver pizza, for example) and are already heavily used by the military and some U.S. police forces. With the proliferation of this new technology has come a new public scrutiny.

    Today, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed that at least four U.S. citizens have been killed in military drone strikes since 2009. According to an Associated Press report, the admission was made in a letter Holder sent to Patrick Leahy, the chairman of the senate judiciary committee.

    The strikes occurred in Pakistan and Yemen. One of the drone strikes was targeted to kill Anwar al-Awlaki, an American and Yemeni imam who is alleged to have been a recruiter for al-Qaeda. The three other U.S. citizens killed in drone strikes were not specifically targeted. Al-Awlaki’s son, Abdulrahman, was also killed in the attack, which occurred in Yemen in 2011. An American named Samir Khan was also killed in the drone strike that killed al-Awlaki. Another American named Jude kenan Mohammed was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Pakistan.