The FAA finalized the drone delivery rules, allowing them to transport packages. Grady Trimble from FOX Business with more.
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the country’s first commercial fully automated drone flights.
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In documents posted on the FAA’s website, Massachusetts-based American Robotics Inc. obtained a partial exemption grant on January 14, which allows unmanned aircraft to fly beyond a remote pilot’s line of sight.
Signed by the Deputy Executive Director of Flight Standards Service, Robert C. Carty, the grant allows American Robotics to operate its Scout quadcopter aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 20 pounds in rural settings for research, development and training.
According to the concession, American Robotics’ operation would take place only during the day in unregulated low-altitude areas with light air traffic and would be limited to 120 meters above the ground.
In addition, any individual flights would take place within the boundaries of American Robotics’ “controlled access agricultural land” or similar rural environments meeting the same criteria.
“We conducted thorough safety assessments before issuing any unmanned aircraft operation approval,” the FAA wrote to Fox Business on Saturday.
The agency also highlighted public interest in the case, writing that regulators would learn more about automated operations by allowing American Robotics to continue its efforts.
“Once adopted on a broader scale, such a scheme could lend efficiency to many of the industries that supply our economy, such as agriculture, transportation, mining, technology and non-durable manufacturing,” added the agency. “In addition, the operations will have a reduced environmental impact, as they will involve a small aircraft without passengers or crew, rather than a significantly larger manned aircraft.”
To meet the standards, American Robotics tested fully automated drones for four years in eight states, according to the initial report by The Wall Street Journal.
Scout drones from the Marlborough company operate on predetermined programs and weigh less than 20 pounds. They also have built-in acoustic technology to prevent birds and other aircraft, and protections to prevent malfunctions.
“With these approvals, American Robotics is ushering in a new era of widespread automated drone operations,” said American Robotics co-founder and CEO, Reese Mozer, in a press release.
“Decades of promises and projections are finally coming true” and will help unlock the $ 100 billion commercial drone market.
Previously, the FAA allowed drones to inspect railroad tracks, industrial sites and pipelines, as long as pilots or observers were in sight.
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In December, the FAA announced that it would publish a long-awaited rule to allow small drones to fly over people at night, as well as requiring remote identification of most drones.
“The new rules open the way for greater integration of drones in our airspace, addressing safety and security issues,” said FAA administrator Steve Dickson in a statement. “They bring us closer to the day when we will see drone operations more routinely, like package delivery.”