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An Air Traffic Control System For Drones
An anonymous reader writes: Personal drones are become more popular, and many companies are trying to figure out ways to incorporate them into their business. So what do we do in 10 years, when the skies are full of small, autonomous vehicles? NASA and a startup called Airware are working on a solution: air traffic control for drones. "The first prototype to be developed under NASA's project will be an Internet-based system. Drone operators will file flight plans for approval. The system will use what it knows about other drone flights, weather forecasts, and physical obstacles such as radio masts to give the go-ahead. Later phases of the project will build more sophisticated systems that can actively manage drone traffic by sending out commands to drones in flight. That could mean directing them to spread out when craft from multiple operators are flying in the same area, or taking action when something goes wrong, such as a drone losing contact with its operator, says Jonathan Downey, CEO of Airware. If a drone strayed out of its approved area, for example, the system might automatically send a command that made it return to its assigned area, or land immediately."
I build and fly these "drones" (multirotors) for fun and work, the type of hardware that would be required wouldn't fit in most hobby level "drones" that are seen causing all the problems (DJI Phantom's etc) and the infrastructure to provide what the above implies would be extensive.
For commercial UAV's of size sure no problem, larger, more powerful radio systems and greater payloads.
At best, with the current people in charge, I can see what I do becoming illegal, or too expensive to participate in.
It's a shame really, because of idiots flying over people and houses, doing "altitude test" through clouds and wondering why their craft dies in mid air, to the small number of pervs actually looking in someones window it comes down to a simple statement.
"Can't have nice things"
I've also learned a bit about human psychology and the intelligence of the average person when they see a multirotor and react with fear.
One woman going so far as to say "Where can I go you won't film me" having walked through a parking lot with security cameras pointed at her and all whilst txting away on her iPhone and through a park full of people with their phones (and one even had Glass on) to where we were flying.
Yes this helicopter is the problem.... (sarcasm) Cow goes moooooo
And people wonder why I'm a misanthrope.
"If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
My apologies if it seems I'm duplicating the post "Name" saying "Drone or RPV?". These things are not autonomous drones; they are actively controlled by people. There is no ATC of the things in the air; it's all about the various people wherever they happen to be on the ground.
There's a park near us where people fly RC planes. Fun to watch, and people keep them over the park, and there's no question they're controlled. The first time someone put up a multi-rotor, though, someone asked, "Is that a drone? Can it go by itself?" No. It's an RC plane just like everything else. And if you keep it over the open land in the park, and stay away from people's windows, you'll be fine.