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> He warned that any moves to enforce geo-fencing rules would be vulnerable to being hacked by "somebody who could get round that software". Indeed very impre

> He warned that any moves to enforce geo-fencing rules would be vulnerable to being hacked by "somebody who could get round that software". Indeed very impressive that an elected official understands this. Someone with a little reverse engineering talent can patch something like that without much work for near-free (think bypassing those FCC regulations turning up TX power in your router firmware). Someone with a little regular engineering talent can spoof or jam GPS for relatively cheap.

Malstrond 10y ago
Not to mention there is free flight controller software with autonomous capabilites, e.g. APM.
johansch 10y ago
Realistically speaking, what it means is that this particular minister somehow managed to employ a "technical expert" who actually is just that. Oh, and that this technical expert is both a) competent, and b) has managed to gain the trust of the minister. The combination is probably easier said than done, so props to whoever that person is :).
- eru 10y ago
  I don't really care whether my `competent politician' is actually a single human, or a bunch of people working together. (Just like people usually attribute speeches to a mythical, composite `Obama' person, even though the roles of performer and speechwriter are done by different people.)
  - arrrg 10y ago
    Effectively delegating tasks is a skill and I know it’s a skill because I suck at it.
fabulist 10y ago
I think the geofencing has the same value as a door lock; it keeps the honest people honest.
- Caprinicus 10y ago
  So we'll only really have to worry about dishonest terrorists and or plastic bags
  - adrusi 10y ago
    Right, as opposed to also worrying about a careless teenager flying their drone too close to an airport to get a sick camera angle of a landing plane.
    - madaxe_again 10y ago
      Why worry about something that hasn't happened? Why not worry about a careless teenager wanting to get a sick Camera angle of the inside of your fridge? It's as valid a concern.
      - enzanki_ars 10y ago
        But people flying drones over airports has happened: https://youtu.be/QGMDQ-vaV9Y https://youtu.be/QGMDQ-vaV9Y
      - fabulist 10y ago
        Normally I would agree with you, I often chide people for inventing problems to solve. But it is a little different when it isn't a hypothetical as much as an inevitable future occurrence. As for refrigerators, I am just as worried about people trying to fly drones around my house as I am about people flying drones around planes, yes. I have it on good authority that anyone with the funds can purchase access to 3D drone-generated map of my city, my house included. A gentleman here in town who replaces windows doesn't bother to measure them anymore; he just uses the drone photos.
jagermo 10y ago
or you could just build a drone without GPS. Geofencing only works if people stick to the rules. Criminals normaly don't.
bambax 10y ago
I use multimotors, and think the current hysteria about drones is deplorable, and that this minister's response (and indeed the whole article) is great. That said, geofencing is not to protect planes from terrorists, it's to protect them from stupid.

Malstrond 10y ago

Not to mention there is free flight controller software with autonomous capabilites, e.g. APM.

johansch 10y ago

Realistically speaking, what it means is that this particular minister somehow managed to employ a "technical expert" who actually is just that. Oh, and that this technical expert is both a) competent, and b) has managed to gain the trust of the minister. The combination is probably easier said than done, so props to whoever that person is :).

eru 10y ago
I don't really care whether my `competent politician' is actually a single human, or a bunch of people working together. (Just like people usually attribute speeches to a mythical, composite `Obama' person, even though the roles of performer and speechwriter are done by different people.)
- arrrg 10y ago
  Effectively delegating tasks is a skill and I know it’s a skill because I suck at it.

fabulist 10y ago

I think the geofencing has the same value as a door lock; it keeps the honest people honest.

Caprinicus 10y ago
So we'll only really have to worry about dishonest terrorists and or plastic bags
- adrusi 10y ago
  Right, as opposed to also worrying about a careless teenager flying their drone too close to an airport to get a sick camera angle of a landing plane.
  - madaxe_again 10y ago
    Why worry about something that hasn't happened? Why not worry about a careless teenager wanting to get a sick Camera angle of the inside of your fridge? It's as valid a concern.
    - enzanki_ars 10y ago
      But people flying drones over airports has happened: https://youtu.be/QGMDQ-vaV9Y https://youtu.be/QGMDQ-vaV9Y
    - fabulist 10y ago
      Normally I would agree with you, I often chide people for inventing problems to solve. But it is a little different when it isn't a hypothetical as much as an inevitable future occurrence. As for refrigerators, I am just as worried about people trying to fly drones around my house as I am about people flying drones around planes, yes. I have it on good authority that anyone with the funds can purchase access to 3D drone-generated map of my city, my house included. A gentleman here in town who replaces windows doesn't bother to measure them anymore; he just uses the drone photos.

jagermo 10y ago

or you could just build a drone without GPS. Geofencing only works if people stick to the rules. Criminals normaly don't.

bambax 10y ago

I use multimotors, and think the current hysteria about drones is deplorable, and that this minister's response (and indeed the whole article) is great. That said, geofencing is not to protect planes from terrorists, it's to protect them from stupid.