AUVSI and DOD’s Defense Innovation Unit Announce Collaboration for Cyber Standards for Drones

The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world’s leading trade association for drones and other autonomous vehicles, announced a collaboration with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to further commercial cyber methodologies to design a shared standard. AUVSI’s effort is meant to expand the number of vetted drones that meet congressional and federal agency drone security requirements.

This pilot program would extend relevant cyber-credentialing across the U.S. industrial base and assist the DOD and other government entities in streamlining and accelerating drone capabilities across the board. Overall, this collaboration will help make the drone industry more secure. The program will work with numerous cybersecurity firms to conduct technical cyber assessments before the DIU, DOD, and other government entities conduct additional vetting as necessary.

Currently, the Blue UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Cleared List has 14 drones on it and 13 more drones are scheduled to be added. The Blue UAS Cleared List is routinely updated and contains a list of DOD-approved drones for government users. These drones are section 848 FY20 NDAA compliant, validated as cyber-secure and safe to fly, and are available for government purchase and operation. However, even with these additions, the demand for additional cleared drones with new capabilities and technology has outpaced the DIU’s ability to scale the program. This collaboration seeks to close that gap and offer cybersecurity certification in close cooperation with the DIU. With off-the-shelf drones serving as critical tools to help conduct diverse government operations, partnership with AUVSI and cybersecurity experts will make it easier for government users to use commercial technology and achieve effective operations in a secure manner.

Copyright © 2022 Robinson & Cole LLP. All rights reserved.

New Survey Shows that Americans are Ready for More Deliveries by Drone

Auterion, a drone software company, commissioned a survey from the market research company, Propeller Insights, of 1,022 adults. The survey was gender-balanced and distributed across age groups from 18 to 65+, living in rural, suburban, and city environments in the United States, and was conducted in May 2022.

In the report summarizing the survey, “Consumer Attitudes on Drone Delivery,” Auterion reveals that 58 percent of Americans like the idea of drone deliveries, and 64 percent think drones are becoming an option for home delivery now or will be in the near future. With more than 80 percent of those surveyed reporting that they have packages delivered to their homes on a regular basis, the survey finds that Americans are generally ready to integrate drone delivery into daily life for ease and speed. Of the 64 percent who see drones becoming a more common option for home delivery, 32 percent think it’s possible now or within the next 1 to 2 years.

Only 36 percent of those surveyed had doubts about this type of drone integration, including some individuals who think the general public or governments will not approve of large-scale drone adoption for delivery and others who just prefer that drone delivery doesn’t happen at all.

With individuals choosing more than one option, the survey found that the most common types of home package deliveries reported by consumers today, by vehicles and trucks, are:

  • 39 percent – groceries

  • 34 percent – clothing

  • 33 percent – household items

  • 31 percent – meals

  • 27 percent – medicine

  • 11 percent – baby food/needs

Based on these findings, those surveyed were also asked if they were willing to consider drones as a “new corner store” for conveniently delivering small and last-minute necessities: 54 percent of the individuals said “yes.”

With regard to concerns related to these drone deliveries, 43 percent of those surveyed fear the drone will break down and they will not receive their item, and 19 percent are worried about not having human interaction with their delivery person. However, drone delivery and systems provide accurate trackability and direct delivery, and, therefore are more capable of accurate delivery timing. Delivery drones are built to analyze the environment with precision, to communicate through control software in a common language and predict safe landing spots for the packages. Air space is becoming a great option in a time when highways are filled with cars and trucks, and fuel prices are rising. Drones can help to reduce our reliance on gas-powered delivery vehicles, and provide safer, more flexible, and more cost-effective delivery.

Copyright © 2022 Robinson & Cole LLP. All rights reserved.

Will Louisiana’s New Laws for Self-Driving Delivery Devices Prevent Accidents?

Retail chains, grocery stores, and restaurants have been actively developing methods to deliver products faster. With inventions like self-driving cars and drones, it was only a matter of time before delivery services took advantage. But with any new technology comes safety concerns.

Republican Sen. Rick Ward sponsored a new bill to outline how driverless delivery devices are allowed to operate on Louisiana streets. Governor John Bel Edwards signed the bill and it went into effect immediately. With these new laws in place, Louisiana lawmakers hope to keep motorists and pedestrians safe as they share travel alongside self-driving delivery devices.

Self-Driving Technology

Self-driving cars have been in the works since the 1920s. Carnegie Mellon University’s Navlab and ALV projects built a computer-controlled vehicle in 1984. Since then autonomous technology has expanded to other devices to serve various markets.

Autonomous Cars

When most people think of self-driving technology, they think of autonomous cars. This type of self-driving machine can go long distances and carry larger cargo. Autonomous cars typically transport people while vans may transport smaller self-driving bots.

Surprisingly, the largest safety risk posed to autonomous cars is human unpredictability. The vehicles are programmed to obey strict safety guidelines along with the rules of the road. In theory, that should be adequate to ensure safety. In reality, these vehicles are bullied by human motorists who drive aggressively.

Drones

The first modern drone was developed in 1935. These small, unmanned aircrafts transformed from military equipment to personal aerial cameras. In June 2021, Kroger became the next company to utilize self-driving devices by launching their first drone flight to deliver groceries.

Airborne drones can fly over traffic jams or obstructions. This would allow them to make deliveries in rural areas that traditional delivery trucks cannot reach. Potential complications arise from privacy issues and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

Last-Mile Bots

Last-mile bots, also known as ground drones, are typically small robots that travel short distances. They may cross streets but otherwise tend to remain on sidewalks as they complete a delivery’s last leg of the journey. These robots are designed to navigate sleep inclines, curbs, and unpaved surfaces.

The biggest limitation of last-mile bots is the size and weight of the deliveries they can carry. Severe weather may also pose challenges. Companies like DoorDash and Postmates successfully use last-mile bots to make multiple short deliveries that delivery drivers typically don’t want to accept.

Louisiana’s New Laws for Self-Driving Delivery Devices

As new technologies emerge, so do new laws to govern their usage. Under Louisiana’s Senate Bill 147, self-driving delivery devices must move at low speeds. They cannot exceed 20 miles per hour. They are limited to 12 miles per hour in pedestrian areas, which is roughly the speed of a person jogging.

These autonomous delivery robots must yield to pedestrians. They cannot obstruct the flow of traffic. They must also be equipped with lights on the front and rear.

The companies utilizing robot delivery must ensure each vehicle carries at least $100,000 insurance coverage. Additionally, these devices are not permitted to transport hazardous materials.

Are Self-Driving Delivery Devices Safe?

Due to the high standards of robotics developers, driverless vehicles are generally safer than cars with human drivers. Safety is paramount, since according to a car accident lawyer in New Orleans, nearly 14% of Louisiana drivers don’t have auto insurance.

Louisiana’s new laws aim to prevent accidents both to motorists and pedestrians. Multiple states have passed similar legislation to protect people sharing space with these vehicles. However, Louisiana’s bill permits governing officials and airport authorities to establish additional laws or ban self-driving delivery devices if they pose a danger to public safety in the future.

Who Is Liable When a Self-Driving Delivery Vehicle Causes an Accident?

At this time, no delivery vehicles that are 100% automated are in use, so there are no laws or regulations to determine who would be liable in an accident. However, if there were an accident involving a self-driving delivery vehicle and it could be proven that the vehicle’s operators were negligent, in theory, they would be legally liable.

There are several ways a company’s negligence could lead to an accident. For example, they could fail to maintain the vehicle or to perform critical software updates. Just as with any other type of vehicle on the road, self-driving delivery vehicles can and will get into accidents. When it happens, expect to see increased regulations and lawsuits.


© Laborde Earles Law Firm 2021

The ABA Presents: Air & Space Catalog

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Steer Clear from Military Bases if You Want to Keep Your Drone (and Yourself) Out of Trouble

There has been a growing security concern posed by drones, especially in light of increased use by both private citizens and companies. With the aim of keeping personnel and equipment safe in connection with its domestic military bases, the Pentagon recently issued classified rules that provide guidance to the U.S. military on how to deal with private and commercial drones that are found flying over or around its domestic military bases.

During the drafting process of the rules, the Pentagon consulted with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine how best to deal with drones. Although the specifics of the rules are classified, the rules generally allow for a variety of different responses to drones including tracking, disabling, and destroying the drones. The response may depend on the circumstances as well as the installation the drone is spotted near (i.e. the drones may even be seized afterwards for use in subsequent investigations). Further, the military already has several options in place such as using traditional ammunition to disable or destroy the drones as well as relying on radio waves to commandeer the drones from their operators.

However, the drones may not be the only things targeted if found operating near military bases. Back in April of this year, the Pentagon and the FAA announced a rule that prohibited drone flights near various domestic military bases. Although the previous rule regarding drones did not indicate that the drones would be specifically targeted by the military, it did state that pilots caught violating the restriction would be subject to arrest. The Pentagon has indicated that it will support civilian law enforcement investigations and the prosecution of unauthorized drone operations over military installations. Violators could potentially face fines or jail time.

For reference, a map can be found on the FAA website that provides information for the general public regarding areas and altitudes where drones can be operated safely. The map also highlights the various restricted airspace in connection with the domestic military bases.

This post was written by Thomas Nguyen of Polsinelli LLP in California © Polsinelli PC

For more legal analysis go to The National Law Review

Three Things Commercial Drone Operators Need to Know Regarding the FAA’s Proposed Rules

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

In a long anticipated move, on February 15, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued proposed rules that are intended to permit the commercial operation of small unmanned aircraft, commonly referred to as “drones.”

Safety is Key

The proposed rules attempt to balance the risk to public safety while providing a regulatory framework that is reasonably (but not overly) burdensome to the industry to avoid stifling advances in technology and economic competitiveness.  The FAA addresses safety in a number of ways, but most obviously by limiting the weight of the drone, limiting the manner of its operation, and by placing restrictions on the people flying the drone. By providing a regulatory path for at least some commercial operations, the proposed rules help those in the industry avoid uncertainty and substantial costs associated with requesting an FAA exemption or special airworthiness certificate.

Only Small Drones Would Have the Green Light 

Under the proposed rules, commercial operators of a small drone (weighing less than 55 pounds) must not fly higher than 500 feet above ground level, faster than 100 mph, over people who are not directly involved in the operation, at night, or when weather visibility is less than 3 miles.  A small drone must undergo a preflight inspection before use, though FAA airworthiness certification would not be required. With some modifications due to its size, small drones nevertheless would be subject to the same aircraft marking and registration requirements that are applicable to manned aircraft.  And although the drone must remain within the visual line-of-sight of the operator at all times, to meet the needs of commercial operators where limited risk to people or property would be incurred, this requirement may be met by also deploying a visual observer, perhaps in radio contact with the operator, to assist the operator to maintain visual contact with the small drone in place of the operator.

Operators (“Pilots”) of Drones Must Meet Minimum Requirements

To establish at least a reasonable degree of uniformity across all potential commercial uses permitted under the rules and to minimize national security risks within the borders of the U.S., commercial operators of small drones must:

Be at least 17 years old;

Pass an initial and recurrent aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge test center;

Be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA);

Obtain an unmanned aircraft operator certificate with a small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) type rating,

Make available to the FAA the small unmanned aircraft for inspection/testing; and

Report an accident within 10 days of any operation that results in injury or property damage.

To be sure, winners and losers will exist on both sides of the proposed rules.  While crop monitoring, research uses, educational/academic uses, powerline/antenna/bridge inspections, aerial photography, wildlife tracking, and rescue operations may be more easily accommodated under the proposed rules, other commercial uses will remain in the cold, such as anything requiring use of a drone heavier than 55 pounds at takeoff, flights higher than 500 feet, faster than 100 mph, or at distances or under conditions where the operator or visual observer cannot maintain visual line-of-sight with the drone.  Until the FAA obtains data sufficient to warrant expansion of these rules, those who wish to operate a drone outside the proposed rules have the option of pursuing either an FAA exemption or a special airworthiness certificate.

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