CNN Gets a First-Of-Its-Kind Waiver To Fly Drones Over Crowds (techcrunch.com) 60
The FAA has granted CNN a waiver that allows it to fly its Vantage Robotics Snap drone over open-air crowds of people at altitudes of up to 150 feet. "This is a new precedent in this kind of waiver: Previous exemptions allowed flight of drones over people in closed set operations (like for filmmaking purposes) and only when tethered, with a max height of 21 feet," reports TechCrunch. From the report: The new waiver granted to CNN, as secured through its legal counsel Hogan Lovells, allows for flight of the Vantage UAV (which is quite small and light) above crowds regardless of population density. It was a big win for the firm and the company because it represents a change in perspective on the issue for the FAA, which previously viewed all requests for exceptions from a "worst-case scenario" point of view. Now, however, the FAA has accepted CNN's "reasonableness Approach," which takes into account not just the potential results of a crashed drone, but also the safe operating history of the company doing the flying, their built-in safety procedures, and the features included on the drone model itself that are designed to mitigate the results of any negative issues.
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as fucked up as the u.s. is right now, the u.k. isn't fairing that much better.
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You guys need to check the news every six months or so. Trump won the election. The campaign is over. That means that Clinton is mostly politically irrelevant now. What you guys need to do now is show how what Trump's doing is productive or meets normal standards for human decency or something, because he actually won and is the President.
Compared to a camera crane (Score:4, Insightful)
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Seeing as how they use helicopters instead right now, this seems like it's still an improvement.
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What would CNN actually need a from for any way? Its not like they actually check any facts and half the time they arnt even reporting from the correct location live. I'm still waiting on CNN to read me the Wiki Leaks since its illegal for us common folk to do such a task. If they gave ISIS permission to fly drowns at least I could believe the reports produced by it and posted on their media.
Anonymous Coward = bot...
This was the plan ... (Score:2)
... announced long ago by FAA.
The drone industry has more money than tobacco and gun combined.
They will be ubiquitous. CNN is the test case.
They floodgate are open.
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Probably depends upon how you categorize the "drone industry". This group says it's only going to be about $12B in 2021. That's a drop in the bucket compared to tobacco (about $770B) or guns (about $51B). Now, if you're going to include things like Predator and Global Hawk UAVs, that's a different story, and IMO hardly comparable to "drones".
http://www.businessinsider.com... [businessinsider.com]
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... and IMO hardly comparable to "drones"
Your opinion is not relevant when there are facts.
The drone, of all sorts, types, configurations, for non-military use is an innovation that will have impact and sales far beyond 2021.
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Oh really. Please point to said "facts". I linked to one that disagreed with your opinion. So far, that's all you've got wiseguy.
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wiseguy
Thanks.
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Of course it'll show only one side. The top side. They aren't allowed to fly drones under crowds yet.
Interesting (Score:2)
Meanwhile, in a different country, I've been doing this for the past 2 years (for a small company, not a big news org).
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Welcome to the FAA. Cell phones & laptops will crash airliners! Thinks about it for a decade... Oh, maybe they won't.
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Toby Zeigler is my hero.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
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If it might crash aircraft and might not, the FAA will ban it. It's their job. Moreover, it looks like almost all flight inconveniences are blamed on the TSA and FAA, despite what rumor and airline companies might do.
Having flown a lot of RC aircraft (Score:3)
This has failed servo, failed ESC, failed battery, failed nut on prop, failed motor, failed transmitter, failed receiver , etc., etc. etc. =====>>>>>> LAWSUIT written all over it.
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Modding you up...
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sure, but the FAA now has enough documention that it should be safe to deflect a suit aimed at them. CNN may be on the hook if something goes wrong, but that's their problem - the FAA just has to tighten things back up after something breaks and they're golden.
Not Typical Drone (Score:3)
Not the typical drone design with shrouded blades and snaps apart (bits flying off reduce impact from bulk bits). The safety elements incorporated in this design is clearly the reason for acceptance, this really needs to be pointed out, vs idiots who take an drone with exposed blade amongst people.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
The Vantage Robotics UAV. Pretty light and safe.
If some idiot throws sticks at it, there's more danger from the sticks that knocked it down than the drone itself.
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Let me just poke you in the eye with a pencil, what could the harm be, seriously just a pencil.
fuck the FAA (Score:2)