Domesticating Drones

For decades, the pilotless flying devices known as drones were the purview of the military and a cadre of hard-core civilian hobbyists, since they were prohibitively expensive and exceedingly difficult to operate. But an explosion of cheaper computing power, motion sensors and batteries changed all that. Now, inexpensive four-rotor drones have automatic stabilizers that make them easier to fly, and millions are sold worldwide each year. The advent of high-definition cameras and laser-based radar has made them an increasingly tempting bird’s-eye-view tool for farmers checking their crops and insurance adjusters surveying storm damage. Technology behemoths such as Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc. are racing to develop drones capable of delivering packages to people’s homes. U.S. federal and local governments are grinding away on rules meant to meet the sometimes contradictory goals of protecting both the public’s privacy and its safety.

In a stark demonstration of the disruptive power of drones — as well as the difficulties in regulating and tracking them — Britain’s second-busiest airport, London’s Gatwick, was shut by drones that buzzed illegally around the hub for 36 hours during the pre-Christmas travel rush. The incident drone boosters concerned that political reaction may hinder the rapid growth of the industry. The European Union is working toward new bloc-wide rules, to be adopted as soon as over the next year, which would require all civilian drones to be registered, allowing for remote identification of the aircraft. The U.S. is the largest civilian market for drones and leads the rest of the world by far in investment and developing a regulatory framework. Close to a million hobbyists have registered at least one drone since the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration began compiling a list of owners in 2015. Another 110,000 people licensed to fly the gadgets commercially have registered 236,000 additional vehicles. Regulations generally require that they be flown during the day and kept within 400 feet (122 meters) of the ground, within sight of the operator. They’re also generally restricted around airports, military bases, hazardous conditions such as wildfires and sports stadiums during events. NASA is working on the framework for a low-altitude air-traffic system.