Drones at CES 2017

The second half of my day at CES was spent in the drone section. Wait…let me rephrase that. CES is one big drone section, sprinkled with other stuff. People are finally getting it!  If companies aren’t selling drones at CES, there is a pretty good chance that what they sell can be used for drones. Although the look is much more polished than it was a few years ago the innovation was mostly in the sensors and the utility. I didn’t see any earth shattering technology that filled a technological hole in the drone industry.

The Mota company has drones that look like they were inspired by the Parot Company, and others that are a rip of of a DJI Phantom. It’s a stylish and sexy product in black.

Codrone has an interesting little product that allowed the user to customize the drone into wheeled vehicles, or quadcopters and a few other variations. The setup also allows the user to learn code for programing the drones. It’s a nice way for children to learn and grow with drone technology.

Lego is also joining in the drone and robot business. 

With so much drone technology coming from China, you end up with some really strange company names coming from poor translations.

I hadn’t seen this body style yet.

Getting more on the industrial side of the house.

This years CES featured more utility coming from the drone industry. I can only imagine this is a response to the FAA opening the door for commercial use of drone. Check out this crop dusting drone below. 

Still lots of consumer grade drones at CES. I guess those who thought drones were a flash in the pan, something that would be big for one Christmas and then gone, are now realizing that drones are cool and they have to have one. 

This one isn’t on the market yet, but they are boasting 57 MPH speeds.

Now it’s time to make drones aquatic.

Racing drones are a growing niche within the drone industry. 

Radio control airplanes…plane and simple.

The moment you’ve all been waiting for… DJI presents…

A really cool paint job!

Ehang released their 184 at last year’s CES, I didn’t hear of any significant update on it’s progress.

The Hover camera is cooler than I thought.

Something about this makes me say… “Wow, that’s cool…” I think it’s because they made all the parts. i.e 3D printed wheels, etc.

The Lily Drone never made it to production, but the rip off version is here!

Drone regulations: The FAA’s new rules FAR 107

This post is intended to cover much of the new rule making material published by the FAA, it is not comprehensive and should be used for information only.

Use the following link to access the information for getting licenced with the FAA.

Basic licensing requirements:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
• Be in a physical and mental condition that would not interfere with the safe operation of the small UAS
• Fulfill training and testing requirements (online course – if licensed, or Knowledge test) and requalification tests every 24 months.

After taking the test or online application for licensed pilots you must:

1. Submit an online application using IACRA
2.  Meet with an FAA-authorized individual [3] to validate your:
   1. • IACRA application ID number
      • FAA Tracking Number (FTN)
      • Identification
      • Online course completion certificate
      • Pilot certificate
      • Flight review documentation (in accordance with 14 CFR part 61.56)
   2. Receive a temporary certificate in person (or if meeting with a CFI, receive email notification to print and sign a temporary certificate through IACRA)[4]
   3. Receive a permanent certificate by mail

Before operating a UAS, the remote PIC must first:

• Before operation, mark the small UAS to identify that it is registered with the FAA.
  • Visible or accessible. The number may be enclosed in a compartment only if you can access the compartment without tools.
• Remote PIC must maintain and inspect the small UAS prior to each flight to ensure that it is in a condition for safe operation. (no airworthiness certificate is required).
• Preflight should include:
  • Assess the operating environment
  • Inform any supporting crewmembers about the operation and their roles
  • Inspect the small UAS to ensure that it is in a condition for safe operation
  • Maintain documents required in the event of an on-site FAA inspection
• • Local weather conditions
  • Local airspace and any flight restrictions
  • The location of persons and property on the surface
  • Other ground hazards

  Before any small UAS operation, inspect the aircraft for equipment damage or malfunctions.

  For example, ensure that:

  • All control links between the control station and the small unmanned aircraft are working properly
  • There is sufficient power to continue controlled flight operations to a normal landing
  • Any object attached or carried by the small unmanned aircraft is secure and does not adversely affect the flight characteristics or controllability of the aircraft
  • The unique identifier is readily accessible and visible upon inspection of the small unmanned aircraft

  Visit the Resources page to access a sample preflight inspection checklist.

  You must make available to the FAA, upon request, the small UAS for inspection or testing.

  In addition, you must verify before flight that all required documentation is physically or electronically available in the event of an on-site FAA inspection. Such documentation may include:

  • Pilot certificate
  • Aircraft registration
  • Any necessary waiver, authorization, or exemption
  • Other documentation related to the operation

Small UAS:

• weigh less than 55 lbs.

FAR 107 does not apply to the following: 

• Model aircraft that meet the criteria in 14 CFR part 101.41 (describes circumstances in which model aircraft can be operated safely in the NAS). For more information, see AC 91-57 (as amended).
• Amateur rockets
• Moored balloons or unmanned free balloons
• Kites
• Operations conducted outside the United States
• Public aircraft operations
• Air carrier operations

Note: Remember that hobby and recreational use that meets the requirements of 14 CFR part 101 is not required to be operated in accordance with 14 CFR part 107. However, a hobbyist or Government entity conducting a Public Aircraft Operation (PAO) has the option to operate wholly under part 107 if all part 107 requirements are met.

Registration of Small UAS

– Like other types of civil aircraft, most small UAS must be registered with the FAA prior to operating in the NAS

• Owners must register any small UAS that is greater than 0.55 lbs and operated under part 107.

• Maintenance Requirements

  Scheduled Maintenance: If the small UAS or component manufacturer does not provide scheduled maintenance instructions, it is recommended that you establish your own scheduled maintenance protocol.

  For example:

  • Document any repair, modification, overhaul, or replacement of a system component resulting from normal flight operations
  • Record the time-in-service for that component at the time of the maintenance procedure
  • Assess these records over time to establish a reliable maintenance schedule for the small UAS and its components.

Unscheduled Maintenance: Do not conduct flight operations until the discrepancy is corrected.

• Must remain within visual line of sight: The small unmanned aircraft must remain within visual line-of-sight (VLOS) of flight crewmembers. Visual line of sight means any flight crewmember (i.e. the Remote PIC; person manipulating the controls; and visual observers, if used) is capable of seeing the aircraft with vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses).Crewmembers must operate within the following limitations.
  • Minimum visibility, as observed from the location of the control station, must be no less than 3 statute miles
  • Minimum distance from clouds must be no less than 500 feet below a cloud and 2000 feet horizontally from the cloud.
• Night time operations: 14 CFR part 107 prohibits operation of a small UAS at night, defined in 14 CFR part 1 as the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the Federal Air Almanac, and converted to local time. In the contiguous United States, evening civil twilight is the period of sunset until 30 minutes after sunset and morning civil twilight is the period of 30 minutes prior to sunrise until sunrise. When small UAS operations are conducted during civil twilight, the small UAS must be equipped with anti-collision lights that are capable of being visible for at least 3 statute miles from the control station.
• Speed restriction: Cannot be flown faster than a groundspeed of 87 knots (100 miles per hour)
• Altitude restriction: Cannot be flown higher than 400 feet above ground level (AGL) unless flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure and is not flown higher than 400 feet above the structure’s immediate uppermost limit

• Operation near Aircraft: Right of Way Rules

  No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with operations and traffic patterns at any airport, heliport, or seaplane base. The Remote PIC also has a responsibility to remain clear of and yield right-of-way to all other aircraft, manned or unmanned, and avoid other potential hazards that may affect the Remote PIC’s operation of the aircraft. This is traditionally referred to as “see and avoid”.

  To satisfy this responsibility, the Remote PIC must:

  • Know the location and flight path of his or her small unmanned aircraft at all times
  • Be aware of other aircraft, persons, and property in the vicinity of the operating area
  • Be able to maneuver the small unmanned aircraft to:
    • Avoid a collision
    • Prevent other aircraft from having to take evasive action
  • Avoid operating anywhere where the presence of his or her unmanned aircraft may interfere with operations at the airport, such as approach corridors, taxiways, runways, or helipads
  • Yield right-of-way to all other aircraft, including aircraft operating on the surface of the airport

  First-person view camera cannot satisfy ‘‘see-and-avoid’’ requirement. However, such cameras can be used as long as the “see-and-avoid” requirement is satisfied in other ways.

• Operation in Certain Airspace

Nine Eagles (company)