Photos: L.A. drone expo

Several thousand people flocked to the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena near USC this month for the commercial drone industry’s first expo. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

Dec. 23, 2014 4:34 PM PT

The FAA says that by year-end it plans to propose rules for commercial drones weighing less than 55 pounds. But the fledgling drone industry has not been waiting to take off. Sales of the robotic flying machines are soaring.

Staff from Total Control Innovations demonstrate a drone at the L.A. expo. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

A boy plays with the controls of a helicopter used to promote pilot training during the drone expo. Anyone can fly a drone for fun or personal use -- as long as national safety guidelines are followed. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

Kevin Gould from Hawk Aerial demonstrates a drone at the L.A. expo. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

Expo visitors stop to look at HiTec drones. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

Harold Sweet demonstrates the DJI Phantom Vision Plus drone at the L.A. expo. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

Consultants from Flyspan Solutions demonstrate a drone intended for police use at the L.A. expo. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

A consultant holds a HiTec drone at the expo. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)