Will the FAA’s new Rules Speed Use of drones? Google Responds.

Regulating commercial delivery.

Will the FAA’s new rules speed commercialization of drones?   In RetailWire  by Tom Ryan

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday issued guidelines  that will soon require remote identification for any drone that has to be registered with the FAA in what could expand the use of the machines for commercial deliveries.

Drones will be required to have Remote ID, an identification technology that will enable authorities to track drones.

The FAA said in a statement, “Remote ID is a major step toward the full integration of drones into the national airspace system. Remote ID provides identification of drones in flight as well as the location of their control stations, providing crucial information to our national security agencies and law enforcement partners, and other officials charged with ensuring public safety. Airspace awareness reduces the risk of drone interference with other aircraft and people and property on the ground.”

New rules also relax restrictions for flying drones over people and at night, but add mandates that they be outfitted with anti-collision lights that can be seen for three miles. Currently, a waiver is required to fly a drone at night or over people not involved in the operation of the drone.

The rule for flying over people — which also allows for operations over moving vehicles — establishes four eligibility categories with stipulations ranging from the drone’s weight to the severity of injury they could cause in an accident. Drones also must have no “exposed rotating parts” that could cut human skin  ... ' 

Google’s Wing warns new drone laws ‘may have unintended consequences’ for privacy

 Alphabet’s drone delivery company still wants drones tracked — but differently

By Sean Hollister@StarFire2258    in TheVerge

Drones are Filling the Skies

A broad piece in the WSJ on how major players are examining, testing and using drones.  And the methods they are using to make this all work.

The Drones Are Coming! How Amazon, Alphabet, Uber Are Taking to the Skies
The Wall Street Journal
By Sebastian Herrera; Alberto Cervantes
October 25, 2019

Companies including Amazon, Alphabet's Wing, and Uber, are launching more advanced trials of drone delivery. Wing started tests in Christiansburg, VA, this month, while Uber will set up experiments in San Diego before the end of the year. Amazon said last June it would begin delivering packages to consumers via drone "within months." The companies have to overcome a number of obstructions and concerns before drone delivery can become widespread. Amazon uses machine learning algorithms and infrared sensors to detect obstacles like birds and wires, and programs its drones with scenarios (such as when a delivery location cannot be detected), and commands to follow in such scenarios. Wing, meanwhile, has tested its drone north of Helsinki under snowy and windy conditions; its drone has built-in wind sensors and is waterproof. A challenge that remains is that no standard exists on how drones can identify and communicate with each other while in flight, so drone delivery by multiple companies in the same area is not currently possible. ... ' 

Alphabet's Wing is Doing Drone Traffic Control

Could this mean we will see many more drones in the sky, now more safely managed and directed to tasks?    Informative site:

Empowering everyone to safely access the sky.

Flying is complex. Through automation and data, our OpenSky platform empowers you to take flight with confidence—whether that means flying a single drone or an entire fleet.

We handle the journey, so you can focus on the destination.
Whether you’re a hobbyist who loves to fly, or a business that uses unmanned aircraft to survey land or deliver goods, OpenSky makes it easy to find out where and how to fly, tailored to your operation.

A version of the OpenSky app is approved by CASA in Australia and available now.  .... " 

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