Summary
Chinese drone company DJI has removed its geofencing feature that automatically restricted drone flights over sensitive areas, like airports, wildfires, and government buildings, replacing it with dismissible warnings.
The decision follows growing distrust in Chinese-made drones and U.S. regulatory changes.
DJI argues this empowers operators while aligning with global standards, but critics worry it could endanger safety, particularly for unaware pilots.
Previously, geofencing helped prevent incidents, like a DJI drone crash at the White House in 2015.
Fiber optic drones? There’s a cable running from the controller to the drone? Jeez.
You must not be paying attention to the reports out of Ukraine and how both sides are resorting to fiber feeds to avoid all the jamming. It isn’t really even a new concept as it existed way back in the Vietnam War days on the TOW missile; albeit it using wire not fiber optics. Oh yeah and the TOW is currently in use in the Ukraine war right now apparently if you believe wikipedia; but I can’t back that one up myself.
ETA: actually there’s this https://web.archive.org/web/20230331103558/https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1637833178579607552 but seems to be the non-wire guided model. Go figure ;-)