Drone manufacturer DJI reveals plans to head off stricter laws
THE WORLD’S leading drone manufacturer has revealed plans to head off potentially stricter laws from an Australian Senate inquiry into the technology later this year.
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THE WORLD’S leading drone manufacturer has revealed plans to head off potentially stricter laws from an Australian Senate inquiry into the technology later this year.
It comes just weeks after Chinese manufacturer DJI appointed a new head of policy, based in Canberra, who will also consult with the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority on drone regulations.
The move followed news the final report from the inquiry into the “safe use of remotely piloted aircraft systems” would be delayed until March 28, and after comments from Coalition Senator Barry O’Sullivan that Australia’s current drone rules were a “catastrophe waiting to happen”.
CASA’s new drone regulations, released last October, relaxed rules demanding all commercial drone operators be licensed, but included strict regulations that no personal drone users fly craft over 120m in the air, outside their line of sight, at night, in emergency situations, or within 30m of people.
Speaking at the launch of its smallest and most advanced drone in Sydney on Wednesday, DJI policy head Adam Welsh said the company was keen to defend Australia’s regulations and respond to attacks on the technology which he said were not based on available evidence.
“Frankly, I think the existing CASA scheme is sensible and its decisions were based on the idea that 2kg drones don’t need the same rules because they don’t pose the same risk,” Mr Welsh said.
“The key thing for us is we believe in safe regulation and that needs to be based on risk.
“Our hope is that the inquiry comes back with a scheme that puts Australia ahead of most nations in terms of drone use.”
Mr Welsh said Australia’s current drone rules had paved the way for innovative technology trials, including Google’s Project Wing deliveries of vitamins and burritos in New South Wales and the ACT.
The current regulations could attract more overseas investment, he said, and assist local companies with large properties and regional infrastructure to maintain.
“Australia has a real opportunity to be an innovator in this field,” Mr Welsh said.
“There’s a lot of great use cases for drones in Australia, like using drones to survey things like power lines and utilities.”
A drone was also used to rescue two teenage boys in the surf off Lennox Head last Friday, just hours after Surf Life Saving NSW and the NSW State Government announced a trial of the technology.
DJI also unveiled a redesigned, lightweight drone at its Sydney event, with the $1299 Mavic Air folding down to a size little larger than a sunglasses case.
DJI communications director Kevin On said it was a “big challenge” for the company’s engineers to add image stabilisation, 4K video, autonomous navigation, and gesture controls to such a small device.
“Really now it’s just a drone you can take just out of your pocket,” he said. “It’s an incredible tool for storytellers.”
The Senate Committee investigating drone laws estimated as many as 100,000 drones are currently used in Australia, and research firm Gartner estimated more than 3 million drones were sold worldwide last year.