By Dan Gettinger Today, April 13, experts and delegates from around the world are gathering in Geneva, Switzerland for a discussion on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, or, LAWS. The Meeting of Experts is organized by the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). Over the next five days, the representatives …
We have published an updated database of FAA commercial drone exemptions here. By Dan Gettinger On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration released the names of 30 new companies that had approval to use drones commercially. Although the announcement was made quietly, in terms of numbers of companies, this new round …
By Dan Gettinger In January, a DJI Phantom quadcopter drone crashed on the White House lawn. The operator had apparently lost control of the drone while he was flying it outside his apartment window in Washington D.C. For some, this was proof that cheap, small drones such as the Phantom …
By Dan Gettinger On February 17, the United States announced that it will loosen restrictions on the sale of armed drones to foreign nations. The policy, which was outlined in a statement by the Department of State, establishes new rules for the export of drones and makes it easier for …
For an examination of how drones factor into the House and Senate defense spending bills for FY16, go here. For a breakdown of spending on the MQ-9 Reaper, click here. This guide is out of date. For drones in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal, click here. By Dan Gettinger …
By Arthur Holland Michel In 1916, the 1st Aero Squadron of the U.S. Army crossed the U.S. border into Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa. Their mission was to provide aerial reconnaissance for General Pershing’s cavalry force. It was the first time the United States used aircraft in support of …
By Dan Gettinger, @GettDan In 2014, Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) became a hot topic of debate. Military strategists are planning for a future in which autonomous unmanned systems such as aerial drones are capable of making targeting decisions without any human input. Meanwhile, the United Nations is considering a preemptive …
By Tekendra Parmar Need to Know provides context and resources to help you get a better understanding of recent developments in the world of drones. What You Need to Know About Drones in India Last May, Mumbai became the first city to have a margarita pizza delivered via drone. Flying …
Need to Know provides context and resources to help you get a better understanding of recent developments in the world of drones. By Dan Gettinger, @GettDan Earlier this week, the National Transportation Safety Board, an independent U.S. government agency responsible for investigating major accidents and incidents, remanded the case of Raphael …
Need to Know provides context and resources to help you get a better understanding of recent developments in the world of drones. By Dan Gettinger, @GettDan Earlier this month, China unveiled a new system to defend against drones: lasers. According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, the ultra-accurate lasers can bring …
Need to Know provides context and resources to help you get a better understanding of recent developments in the world of drones. By Dan Gettinger, @GettDan In August, the U.S. Navy unleashed a swarm of 13 unmanned patrol boats on Virginia’s James River. The boats escorted a manned cruiser and simulated …
By Dan Gettinger and Arthur Holland Michel Between October 5 and October 11, the United States launched eight reported drone strikes in Pakistan. The strikes took place in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA); four in the Shawal Valley that borders the regions of North and South Waziristan, three in …
