“Through a FOIA request to the US Department of the Interior, journalist Ben Welsh has obtained and published the agency’s drone roster. For each of the 850+ remote-controlled aircraft, the dataset lists the agency bureau and office, drone manufacturer, model, cost, serial number, and more. The FOIA request also unearthed spreadsheets listing specific drone flights… Continue Reading
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We Mapped Where Customs and Border Protection Drones Are Flying in the U.S. and Beyond
Gizmodo: “Over nearly a decade since that standoff, the details of CBP’s drone operations have been vague. Previous reporting and public documents suggest that the agency operates a fleet of 10 Predator drones that are legally permitted to patrol within 100 air miles of the border—CBP also asserts the power to do so within 100… Continue Reading
Drones Used in Crime Fly Under the Law’s Radar
The New York Times – Drones are increasingly being used by criminals across the country, and local law enforcement agencies are often powerless to stop them.”…Drones pose novel and difficult problems for law enforcement. They are widely available, lightly regulated and can be flown remotely by an operator far away from the crime scene. They… Continue Reading
US Dept of Interior to ground its drones over Chinese spying risk
cnet: “The US Department of the Interior is grounding its fleet of more than 800 aerial drones over concerns about Chinese spying and cyberattacks. The fleet will remain grounded until a full review is completed by Secretary David Bernhardt, the department said Thursday. However, drones being used for emergency rescues and disasters will remain in… Continue Reading
Why the US Government Is Terrified of Hobbyist Drones
Wired: “If you want to understand why the government freaked out when a $400 remote-controlled quadcopter landed on the White House grounds last week, you need to look four miles away, to a small briefing room in Arlington, Virginia. There, just 10 days earlier, officials from the US military, the Department of Homeland Security, and… Continue Reading
The British Army is carrying out a massive test of military robots and drones
The Future is Now…Technology Review – “The British Army is testing out over 70 new technologies, including unmanned vehicles and surveillance drones, in a four-week experiment on one of its biggest training grounds. What sort of stuff? The department isn’t giving out specifics but said the focus will be on “surveillance, long-range, and precision targeting,… Continue Reading
These Police Drones are Watching You
POGO: “…Existing technology that is affordable and in wide use allows law enforcement to spy on individuals over huge distances. The most prominent example is the DJI Zenmuse Z30 camera, which can be affixed to commonly used drone models such as the Inspire 2 and the Matrice. Chinese manufacturer DJI, the drone maker most favored by U.S. law enforcement, promotes the… Continue Reading
Here come the drones
December 19, 2017 – 8% of Americans say they own a drone, while more than half have seen one in operation: “Drones are catching on as consumer goods. As of mid-2017, 8% of Americans say they own a drone and 59% say they have seen one in action, according to a Pew Research Center survey.… Continue Reading
Here come the drones – by Executive Order!
FAA – “President Donald J. Trump directed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today to launch an initiative to safely test and validate advanced operations for drones in partnership with state and local governments in select jurisdictions. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program implements a directive signed by President Trump today, and… Continue Reading
Precise weather forecasting critical for product deliveries by drones
Bloomberg: “Drones could soon be flying you books, pills, and pizzas—but first, they’ve got to figure out what kind of wind gusts to expect on your street.” Continue Reading
NYT – Falcons, Drones, Data: A Winery Battles Climate Change
Jackson Family Wines is among California winemakers employing both high-tech and old-school techniques to adapt to hotter, drier conditions: “On a misty autumn morning in Sonoma County, Calif., Katie Jackson headed into the vineyards to assess the harvest. It was late in the season, and an army of field workers was rushing to pick the… Continue Reading
British University Tests Drones That Scan For Evidence Of Landmines
Popular Science: “Landmines never stop waiting. The simple machines are explosives with triggers, set in the ground primed and ready for someone to set them off. For landmines, the war never ends. For humans, war does, and the landmines that once marked the front line between warring factions can change instead to deadly artifacts, a… Continue Reading
