Two people have been arrested in California for flying unauthorized drones in areas impacted by the LA wildfires, according to a police report seen by Deadline.
The arrests follow a collision last Thursday between a civilian drone and a “Super Scooper” that was fighting the blazes, grounding the plane. The FAA says it’s investigating the incident. LA airspace restrictions are in place until January 25th.
According to this New York Times writeup, the first noted sighting was from a contractor enjoying a sandwich and a podcast while enjoying nature, who saw something in his rearview mirror.
Now, the unnamed man says:
As he’s watched the drone frenzy spread across the country, he said he can’t help but worry he’s to blame.
“I feel,” he said, “like I’ve caused mass hysteria.”
[The New York Times]
The FAA banned drone flights temporarily in 22 areas a few weeks ago. Bans for parts of New York closely followed, and as CBS News reports, the list grew a bit longer this week, with warnings that the government ‘may use deadly force’ on UAVs flying there.
The new Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) areas are over Paulsboro, Westville, South Kearny, Port Reading, Atlantic Highlands, Belford, Fort Hancock, Highlands, and Linden through January 18th.
From January to October 2024, prisons in the two countries recorded 1,296 drone-related incidents, marking a tenfold increase from 2020, according to a report from The Guardian.
The UK Commons Justice Committee has since opened an inquiry into the issue, and will look into whether signal blockers and other technology can keep drones out of prison airspace, The Guardian reports.
“Oh right, because there’s beautiful nature, and good schools.”
Now that mystery drones have made it to SNL, does that mean the wave of hysteria and still-unsolved sightings is over?
While the FAA has restricted airspace access for drones over much of New Jersey, it’s also posted a video that might help people figure out which flying objects might be a plane, helicopter, or properly registered and authorized drone that’s just following the rules.
That way, people might stop shining lasers at planes, a problem the FAA says is up 300 percent in the area compared to last year, mostly from people who think they see something weird.
But they’re not passing anything yet, after Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) blocked Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) attempt at drone investigation legislation:
“The Biden administration keeps saying, well, it’s all normal stuff,” he said. “Why don’t we actually get to the truth of the matter of what actually exists and what the threat is before we propose legislation?”
I’ve never seen a drone like this before. Fold-out bicycle wheels, complete with spokes... and it turns into an AT-AT walker when you look at it from the front! Leak courtesy of Jasper Ellens.
The startup, which now only sells its self-flying drones to entities like law enforcement, utility services, and construction companies, raised $170 million in an extension round of funding, according to TechCrunch.
A pitch deck viewed by TechCrunch says government scrutiny over China-based drone companies, like DJI, could help give Skydio “tailwinds” when it comes to sales in the US.
Even as DJI fights the label of “Chinese Military Company” in the US, rival Skydio is facing similar scrutiny in China. Three weeks ago, China froze its assets because it allegedly provided military assistance to Taiwan.
Skydio says its only Taiwanese customer is the National Fire Agency — and that the move will impact battery supplies for months.
[Skydio]
The $199 DJI Neo wasn’t the affordable FPV drone it could have been, because the goggles were too expensive! But DJI’s apparently about to change that — with budget goggles that swap out per-eye Micro-OLED luxury for a cheaper single screen.
Today, DJI’s least expensive goggles cost $349, and even those don’t work with the Neo. Hoping for sub-$200 here.
There’s never been a cheaper, easier-to-use DJI drone than the $200 Neo for self-flying selfies.
But I’m so torn. The foldable $350 HoverAir X1 seems better for my social video needs. It filmed my opening shot below! But I love soaring with FPV goggles, which Hover can’t do. Maybe I’ll wait and see if DJI sells a budget FPV bundle.
