DroneDJ: UK database of drone pilots would cost eye-watering £4m. “UK database capturing information of drone pilots would cost an eye-watering £4m. The government database would collect the personal information of around 150.000 UK drone pilots. Apart from its very high initial price, the database would cost another £2.9m per year to maintain.”
drones
Yahoo News: Google’s Wing Aviation gets FAA OK for drone deliveries
Yahoo News: Google’s Wing Aviation gets FAA OK for drone deliveries. “Google affiliate Wing Aviation has received federal approval allowing it to make commercial deliveries by drone. It’s the first time a company has gotten a federal air carrier certification for drone deliveries.”
The Intercept: Pentagon Says All Of Google’s Work On Drones Is Exempt From The Freedom Of Information Act
The Intercept: Pentagon Says All Of Google’s Work On Drones Is Exempt From The Freedom Of Information Act. “All 5,000 pages of documents about Google’s work on the drone effort, known as Project Maven, are barred from public disclosure, because they constitute ‘critical infrastructure security information.'”
Malta Today: Drones will map out 2,500 kilometres of Malta’s roads for new database
Malta Today: Drones will map out 2,500 kilometres of Malta’s roads for new database. “Aerial photos of over 2,500 kilometres of roads in Malta and Gozo will be captured by specialised drones during the next few weeks, starting from the northern parts of Malta. These images will then be processed to develop a new Geographic Information System (GIS) containing orthophoto maps of Malta’s road network as well as digital road surface models, road condition and damage data that can be used to establish reconstruction prioritisation levels.” I had never heard the term “orthophoto” before, but GIS Lounge enlightened me.
Ecns: Drones increasingly used to protect Great Wall
Ecns: Drones increasingly used to protect Great Wall. “The use of drones helps human inspectors gain a precise understanding of the preservation of the Great Wall at delicate levels and reveals more information on areas difficult for people to access. Yanqing has the most extensive Great Wall elements in the capital city as well as a complete preservation system. Authorities said drones, satellite images and other new technologies will provide the most comprehensive, accurate data on the Great Wall to create a digital archive platform.”
CBR: DJI Drone Hack Opens Up Flight and Video Records to Threat Actors
CBR: DJI Drone Hack Opens Up Flight and Video Records to Threat Actors. “The research team at cybersecurity firm Check Point discovered a vulnerability which allowed hackers to gain access to the flight logs and videos capture by DJI drone operators. Headquartered in China, DJI is one of the world’s largest producer of drones and quadcopters for the consumer market. Check Point researchers Oded Vanun, Dikla Barda and Roman Zaikin discovered that an attacker could gain access to DJI customer accounts without the account holder being aware that the saved flight paths and footage from their drones were accessible.”
The Verge: This online community expands visibility for female drone pilots
The Verge: This online community expands visibility for female drone pilots. “Less than 5 percent of certified drone pilots in the US are women, which is a dreary statistic that highlights the lack of women in STEM industries. The number for women who fly recreationally is likely much higher, but being FAA-certified can open up career opportunities to enter the UAV industry, a fact many likely aren’t aware of. To close the knowledge gap, Elena Buenrostro started Women Who Drone, an online community where female drone pilots, photographers, and videographers can come together and learn from each other.” This site’s apparently been around for a year but it’s new-to-me. I’m also really surprised Zoe Stumbaugh’s not on the site.
