I act as an advisor for DronesBench <a href="http://www.dronesbench.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.dronesbench.com</a> and we think there should also be some sort of drone efficiency certification for the consumer market (from 250g to about 4kg, under 250g they are toys according to EASA legislation draft), same as other electro-mechanical devices or machines, with a concise parameter to be sported on the drone's plate. Too much a difference from the value declared by the vendor may imply hidden defects of the drone and therefore the possibility of a crash. We are actively proposing our DronesBench Index to IEEE and EASA for the legislation to come, with encouraging response from IEEE at the preliminary level. It remains to be seen if and how things progress in a formal way.
OT: Is it just me who does not see huge business opportunies in drones?<p>Don't get me wrong. Drones made a huge leap the recent years and from a hardware manufacturer's POV there is business. There is also great stuff like drone races, drone cams and selfie cam drones.<p>But will there be really much more? Are safety concerns, public regulation and limited use cases in many areas (such as urban areas) giving drones a hard time?
I generally don't have a problem the idea of registration, but 250g is way too low a limit. If 2.2kg is the FAA's lowest risk category, the limit should be closer to that.
>The plans also include the extension of geo-fencing, in which no-fly zones are programmed into drones using GPS co-ordinates, around areas such as prisons and airports.<p>So will open source drone firmware become illegal?
Currently mentoring a startup in this space (not in the UK). For us it's because of mandatory insurance for 3rd party liability, and as a non-drone owner who's seen plenty of idiots wielding them, I'm all for it.<p>I prefer the light touch (ala Mopeds/Scooters) where it's simple and easy, insurance at a flat rate, easy to transfer ownership. Something akin to cars with a v5 document, etc would be overkill.<p>I don't really have an opinion on the weight limits, how much does something have to weigh to take out an eye, or cause a motor vehicle to crash?
Could you, I don't know, require a license on high power handheld lasers? I see imbeciles shining what looks like 100+ mW laser pens (very cheap, very easy to get) on people.<p>Now, I don't like laws banning stuff, but these handheld 150-2000 mW lasers can seriously damage someone's eyes. And I'm not going to risk <i>blindness or poor eyesight for the rest of my life</i> because some idiot thought it looked cool.<p>What's a legitimate use for them? It seems to me that they exist only because "high power, fuck yeah". 50mW is enough for pointing at stuff, and you need industrial lasers to cut something.<p>Shining them in the sky and at people is already illegal, technically, but this is a real case where preventing purchase would be better.
License means More Tax.<p>Why am I not surprised?<p>- Car License.<p>- TV License.<p>- Remember Personal Radios needed a License.<p>- Gun License.<p>- Travel License (passport).<p>Now Drone License. <i>sigh</i><p>What else can the UK Government think of taxing?
While I laud the intent, I doubt bad actors will register their drones, so it'll be a burden for legitimate pilots and no deterrent whatsoever for folks who use them to fly contraband into prison etc.