Key Takeaways from the New DJI Drone Safety Report
- The latest ASSURE report emphasizes that smaller drones, like those produced by DJI, pose minimal risk to commercial aircraft.
- DJI’s commitment to drone safety through education and advanced technology is reaffirmed by the findings of the report.
- The study advocates for regulatory differentiation based on size, proposing that smaller drones be regulated less stringently due to their lower collision risk.
- DJI’s ongoing innovations, such as geofencing and advanced return-to-home features, exemplify the company’s proactive approach to enhancing safety in the skies.
New Report Underscores DJI’s Safety Initiatives
FAA-Commissioned Study Reveals Small Drones Are Less Likely to Endanger Aircraft
In a pivotal new report published by the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE), the considerations surrounding drone collision risks have come to the forefront. DJI, a global leader in civilian drone technology and imaging, has expressed that the findings underscore their ongoing safety endeavors aimed at ensuring a secure airspace. Experts from DJI are readily available to engage in discussions regarding the ASSURE report and the company’s safety protocols.
Understanding Drone Collision Risks
The ASSURE report, which can be found here, primarily examined a DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter alongside a larger fixed-wing drone from a different manufacturer. Using computer models, the study simulated potential collisions with various surfaces of both passenger and business jets. Results revealed a spectrum of collision implications, ranging from negligible to significant.
Similar to ASSURE’s previous analysis on ground collisions, this report provides crucial reassurances, challenging widespread misconceptions regarding drone safety. Notably, even under the most extreme scenarios, the research concluded that a quadcopter drone would not breach the windshield of an aircraft or lead to catastrophic engine failure upon ingestion. Furthermore, at the lower altitudes where most drones operate, the reduced speeds of aircraft correlate with diminished damage risk during potential collisions.
The Case for Regulatory Differentiation
Consistent with DJI’s stance, the study supports a differentiated regulatory approach for smaller drones due to their substantially lower risk of causing severe damage in incidents involving other aircraft. Notably, DJI’s latest models, including the Mavic Pro and Spark, are significantly lighter than the Phantom model used in the study.
Brendan Schulman, DJI’s Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs, emphasized, “ASSURE has done a great public service by rigorously analyzing the risks of collisions and providing a scientific basis for future research, product development, and regulation. Drones present immense benefits to society – including life-saving applications – and the report highlights why this technology’s growth should be driven by factual data rather than fears.”
Innovative Safety Features
The ASSURE study also recommended that manufacturers implement technologies such as sense-and-avoid and geofencing to mitigate collision risks. Several of these features are standard in DJI’s newest drones. The company stands at the forefront of the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) sector, championing innovative solutions that maintain safe distances between drones and passenger aircraft.
Walter Stockwell, DJI’s Director of Technical Standards, remarked, “The ASSURE report signals that our industry’s safety efforts should prioritize safe separations between drones and aircraft, allowing collision data to remain a matter for scientific inquiry. Technology and education are vital to assist drone operators in achieving this objective.”
DJI’s Commitment to Safety
The comprehensive safety measures implemented by DJI include:
- GPS-based geofencing that alerts operators to restricted airspace and prevents unauthorized drone operations in sensitive areas.
- Built-in altitude restrictions for DJI drones.
- Automatic return-to-home functions that ensure safe landings when contact is lost or battery levels are low.
- AirSense receivers integrated into new models that detect ADS-B signals from passenger aircraft, alerting drone operators of potential collision risks.
- Mandatory Knowledge Quizzes for new pilots to demonstrate understanding of safety rules before flying, including proximity guidelines related to aircraft.
- DJI’s AeroScope system, which enables authorities to identify and monitor airborne drones, offering real-time information at critical sites like airports.
ASSURE, a Center of Excellence designated by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), produced this report after commissioning research on drone collision risks. DJI has collaborated with ASSURE since 2016, providing technical assistance and testing materials as part of their dedication to supporting independent, high-quality safety research in the UAS field. The company played no direct role in the report’s preparation or its conclusions.
With millions of drones actively utilized across the globe, reports of confirmed collisions are exceedingly rare. Notably, only one incident has been documented between a modern civilian drone and an aircraft. DJI is currently assisting the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board in an investigation regarding this collision, which occurred in September 2017 between a DJI Phantom 4 drone and a U.S. Army helicopter.
For further inquiries, please reach out to: pr@dji.com
