CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Drones have been a mainstay technology among militaries, hobbyists, and first responders alike for more than a decade, and in that time the range available has skyrocketed. No longer limited to small quadcopters with insufficient battery life, drones are aiding search and rescue efforts, reshaping wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and delivering time-sensitive packages of medical supplies. And billions of dollars are being plowed into building the next generation of fully autonomous systems, James O'Donnell writes for MIT Technology Review. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
25 October 2024 - O'Donnell's work, which is part of the MIT Technology Review's "What's Next?" series, discusses how uncrewed technologies are being used by police, delivery companies, as autonomous weapons systems, and how/why the U.S. is domesticating its drone supply chain.
On the first point, over 1,500 U.S. police departments now operate drones, primarily for search and rescue, crowd monitoring, and other tasks. Scottsdale, Arizona’s police department used a drone to find a missing elderly man with dementia, but the FAA’s “line of sight” rule limits its pilots' operational range. However, the department plans to deploy a new autonomous drone and is seeking FAA approval to fly beyond visual range. Capable of flying up to 57 mph and covering three miles, the drone will assist in tracking suspects and providing real-time visual support during traffic stops.
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
