Opinion: Rise of the Drones

They aren’t a just a high-tech fad. Here’s what to do before the invasion. It’s a good bet that 2015 will be remembered as the year that drones went mainstream. Formerly the province of the military or geeks with money to burn, the technology hit the mass market a big way -- and made news headlines as untrained operators got into trouble.

The flying robots are part of an amazing and slightly terrifying technology that has already begun to fundamentally change our lives. The potential uses for science, agriculture, national security, public safety, personal service and entertainment are endless. It won’t be long before we have a system of low-altitude air highways where drones move about autonomously, delivering packages and mail, monitoring power transmission lines, filming movies and documenting news.

As many ways as there are to improve our lives with drones, there are concerns about how this technology will be employed. Will drones invade our privacy by spying on us? Will delivery drones clutter up the horizon and freak out birds? In this series we explore the various challenges posed by the rise of the drones, outlining some of the policy steps authorities must take immediately, as well as the issues that we as a society must start grappling with before this technology flies away from us.

The invasion will be regulatedRead more

At least, it should be. Local, state and federal authorities need to rein in recreational drones now, and start planning for the next wave. That’s when businesses and organizations start using the flying robots for things such as pizza delivery to wildlife management.

How to speak drone like a proRead more

What’s an “unmanned aircraft system”? A drone, of course. Here are some of the more common terms and names common in the drone world.

What does 400 feet look like?

Four-hundred feet is the highest recreational drones are legally supposed to fly in U.S. airspace, and also the altitude at which the property owners below cannot claim trespassing, according to the courts. But what does that actually look like?

(Video: Front Row Dave)

How to become an idiot drone user without even tryingRead more

I bought a recreational drone, and immediately became part of the problem.

The art of the droneRead more

Drones aren't just for casual hobbyists. In the hands of a trained professional like Dirk Dallas, the technology can revolutionize photography and cinematography.

Palm Springs, California.

(Dirk Dallas)

(Photos by Dirk Dallas)

Federal action in the nick of timeRead more

The FAA did good in getting a drone registry rule before Christmas, but getting people to actually register will be a huge challenge.

The holiday drone sales forecastRead more

400,000 are expected to be sold in November and December of this year. That is less than 1 percent of the U.S. market. But it only takes one to mess up a firefighting operation.

Who rules the drones in the skies?Read more

The FAA made it clear this week that they do, presumably to avoid another year of states and cities passing laws over which they have no authority.

NASA is currently exploring different options for an unmanned aircraft traffic management system, including a plan to separate airspace for planes and drones.

(NASA)

(NASA)

Put the brakes on drone super highwaysRead more

Will fleets of cargo drones be the next great era of aviation or a plague on humanity? Authorities need to know which before giving approval.