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These rules remind me of the red flag laws[1] in the early days of cars. They're needlessly restrictive, and they block billions of dollars in economic producti
by ggreer 10y ago
These rules remind me of the red flag laws[1] in the early days of cars. They're needlessly restrictive, and they block billions of dollars in economic productivity.
More importantly, these rules are going to cause more harm than they prevent. Let me explain.
Today, we use ground vehicles to transport stuff. When people click "buy now" on Amazon, it results in multi-ton metal boxes speeding through neighborhoods. When vehicles and pedestrians exist in close proximity, people get hurt. Every day in the US, over 400 people require medical attention from being hit by cars. Around a dozen die.[2] Even if drones are every bit as dangerous as fearmongers say, they're not that bad. The more that drones substitute for ground vehicles, the safer we'll be.
Unfortunately, the FAA is optimizing for "minimum number of people harmed by drones" and not "minimum number of people harmed".
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_flag_traffic_laws https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_flag_traffic_laws
2. 2013 CDS statistics: https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/ https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/
- kingnothing 10y ago"Most of the restrictions discussed above are waivable if the applicant demonstrates that his or her operation can safely be conducted under the terms of a certificate of waiver." From the FAA Summary.
- ggreer 10y agoYes, I read that part, and I actually skimmed the full rules[1]. Waivers are only available for some restrictions. For example, page 50 of the Part 107 Rule states: > Accordingly, any waivers that the FAA may grant to the visual-line-of-sight provisions of part 107 will not allow the operation to transport property for compensation or hire beyond visual line of sight. That makes drone parcel delivery all but impossible. 1. http://www.faa.gov/uas/media/RIN_2120-AJ60_Clean_Signed.pdf http://www.faa.gov/uas/media/RIN_2120-AJ60_Clean_Signed.pdf
- pyre 10y ago> That makes drone parcel delivery all but impossible Not if they launch it from an airship! A sky full of dirigibles here we come!
- tzs 10y ago> Every day in the US, over 400 people require medical attention from being hit by cars. Around a dozen die. How many of those are killed by package delivery vehicles?
- ggreer 10y agoI tried to find those stats when I was writing my comment, but I had to settle for overall info. Unless delivery vehicles are incredibly safe compared to vehicles overall, my point stands. To cause comparable harm, drones would have to be deadlier than the most pessimistic projections. Also, drones can substitute for more than just delivery vehicles. They could replace most car trips involving moving things (as opposed to moving people). Instead of driving to the Apple store, a drone could pick up your broken laptop and return it when it's fixed. A drone could pick up and return your dry cleaning. Drones could deliver groceries. Etc. The end result is fewer car trips and fewer people maimed or killed.