I’m an American drone pilot. The US drone ban may be about to get worse, as the FCC’s definition of “military-grade” could remove popular drones like the DJI Mini 5 Pro
The FCC is considering a ban on previously approved drones with features like thermal and aerosol, but including LiDAR on the list may even impact popular consumer drones
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering expanding the ban on foreign-made drones in the US to include some "military-grade" features, potentially removing popular consumer drones such as the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Avata 360 from store shelves. These drones may have features like LiDAR, which is used for obstacle avoidance and prevents crashes, including damage to property and people on the ground.
LiDAR technology uses pulses of light to measure distance and is a key safety feature for many consumer drones. The ban would retroactively affect previously approved drones, but existing pilots would still be allowed to fly their models. However, the ban could impact farmers who use drones for spraying crops and first responders using drones for search-and-rescue missions.
DJI, the drone manufacturer, claims that the proposed FCC definition is too broad and could include consumer drones used for daily purposes. The FCC is currently seeking public comments on the proposed drone ban by September 02.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
