The UK government is in talks with NASA about building a tracking system that could detect drones flying below 500 feet, the Under Secretary of State for Transport confirmed yesterday.
The UK and NASA are planning a drone-tracking system
As spotted by Ars Technica UK, Lord Ahmad Tariq said the government is “in early discussions with NASA about the drone traffic management system.” What, exactly, such a system would look like is still unclear, though: Tariq said eventually trials will be needed “to test the robustness of the technology.”
Such a system — which would track both civilian and commercial drones — would be an ambitious project, but the idea may be catching on: NASA has reportedly partnered with Verizon on a similar system. Meanwhile, legislators argue over how best to tackle privacy concerns, with the the governor of California recently vetoing a bill that would have barred drones from flying within 350 feet above property without permission.
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