U.S. Cracks Open Skies To Testing, Use Of Aerial Drones

[Purveyor]

Source: REUTERS

By Alwyn Scott

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. aviation regulator took a step toward opening the skies to aerial drones on Monday, authorizing six sites where unmanned aircraft can be tested for a variety of uses.

The Federal Aviation Administration already has approved limited use of drones in the U.S. for law enforcement, surveillance, atmospheric research and other applications.

But Monday's move will give companies, universities and other entities locations at which to test much broader use, such as crop spraying, catching exotic-animal poachers or delivering packages.

"It provides the platform for this research to be carried out on a very large scale across the country," Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta told reporters.

Read more: http://wkzo.com/news/articles/2013/dec/30/us-aviation-regulator-names-sites-for-unmanned-aircraft-tests/

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Six states chosen as drone testing sites; California among losers

After a fierce nationwide competition that offers potentially big economic benefits for the winners, six sites were selected Monday for testing of how drones can be more widely used in U.S. airspace.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced the selection of sites in Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia.
California, vying to become the Silicon Valley of robotic aircraft, was among the losers in the 24-state competition.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-us-drone-testing-sites-20131230,0,5172767.story

[L0oniX]

2. My bet is that someone in Alaska is going to use a hunting rifle with scope on one.

Sara?

[intaglio]

5. If they can hit something 27' long

travelling at 90 mph at a range of 1 - 3 miles ... then they're the Green Arrow

[1000words]

6. Much easier to spoof the drone's GPS

Pretty easy, really.

[SwankyXomb]

9. Darn

I guess I can stop working on that HERF gun then.

[blkmusclmachine]

3. Why not skip to where the Gov wants to eventually go anyway--mandatory chipping of all individuals

[DavidDvorkin]

4. What do you think is in those vaccines!!

[blkmusclmachine]

15. GOP Senate candidate Tommy Thompson wants to implant data chips in people:

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/may/22/michael-mc-auliff/huffington-post-reporter-says-possible-gop-senate-/

[DavidDvorkin]

18. Change that to "Republian people" and I'd be an enthusiastic supporter

We need to keep track of them.

[proverbialwisdom]

7. Related.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014684753

Unmanned drones coming to N.J. skies as FAA names test sites

By Ed Beeson/The Star-Ledger
December 30, 2013 at 2:03 PM, updated December 30, 2013 at 2:42 PM

Drone aircraft soon will be taking to New Jersey’s skies in experiments that could lead to their wider use.

The Federal Aviation Administration this morning announced the six operators of test sites across the nation that will be conducting research on unmanned civilian drones with an eye to introducing them into the nation’s airways.

One of the winning proposals came from Virginia Tech, which says it plans to run test sites in New Jersey in conjunction with Rutgers University, as well as Virginia.

The FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township also will be “the lead facilitator of data collected from each of the six test sites,” according to Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd), who hailed the FAA’s announcement in a statement.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2013/12/unmanned_drones_to_take_to_nj_skies_as_faa_names_test_sites_for_drone_research.html#incart

[proverbialwisdom]

8. Related BloombergWEST video here.

http://www.nj.com/news/video/?freewheel=90019&sitesection=njdotcom&VID=25481982

[paleotn]

10. I wonder....

..what shot size is best for drones? I guess like game animals, it depends on the size of the target and range. 7-1/2, 8 or 9 for small survellance drones, up to maybe double or triple aught buck for big Amazon package carries. Of course buckshot may risk damaging the cargo. Full choke, Mod or I/C? Decisions, decisions.

I bet drones being shot out of the sky right and left will become a serious issue in the days to come.

[jsr]

11. Drones for spacious skies, from sea to shining sea

[blkmusclmachine]

16. "The better to see you with, my dear."

(Licks chops in anticipation.)

[JoeyT]

12. It's a shame the people in control of them largely won't be trustworthy.

They have a lot of uses that go way beyond spying on people. We'd have killed for one of these when someone (Usually a kid) was lost in the woods and the choice was between calling in the helicopter that cost a fortune to keep in the air or beating our way through the woods with sticks, yelling ourselves hoarse, and hoping some asshat didn't think we were a new species of deer and shoot at us.

Of course the folks that want to use them for stuff that isn't spying on people probably won't be able to afford them.

[davidthegnome]

13. Does anyone else find this real damn scary?

I do not think our civilization is ready for this kind of technology. I do not think our government and law enforcement are, overall, wise enough to be benevolent in their use. We live in a Country that uses video cameras to catch people speeding, so their tickets can arrive conveniently in the mail.

What really gets me is that they are "unmanned". This means they can be hacked, hijacked, malfunction... the possibilities for accidents are almost as scary as the potential for misuse.

Jesus, I guess Big Brother is going to have an even better view now.

[blkmusclmachine]

14. 9/11: Was it a beginning, or an end???

[Javaman]

17. well this opens some scary doors. nt

[peacebird]

19. As a citizen with 5 acres may I shoot down any drones should they happen to appear over my property?

Assuming I thought they were predators after my chickens, of course....

[Drew2510]

20. An old 10ga goose gun would work well!!! LOL