In October, DJI introduced a new technology called AeroScope that makes it possible for law enforcement and other officials to track drones that broadcast info. The system was launched to address growing concerns about drones being operated in forbidden locations, such as near airports or over wildfires. AeroScope works by picking up telemetry and ID data broadcast by DJI drone.
The Verge recently shared a video showing AeroScope in action.
The system, which is a box-shaped device that includes a touchscreen display, issues an alert when it detects a drone nearby. Officials can pull up the ID and telemetry info the drone is broadcasting and potentially use that to identify the operator. A explained in the video, AeroScope shows the operator's email address, which officials can message for direct contact.
Speaking to DIY Photography, DJI said that email addresses were displayed to users in a beta version of the AeroScope software, and that such abilities won't be included in the final version.
There are some limitations to the AeroScope system. For example, drones that aren't registered won't provide info that helps officials identify the operator. As well, the system is localized, meaning it can only detect drones within a couple miles of the device. DJI previously explained that it chose this localized tracking method to prevent drone data from being easily amassed in government databases.
Enlightened cow to other cow, "Is anyone concerned about all the barbed wire everywhere?" Other cow, "Think about all those clown cows that would run wild and cause trouble without the barbed wire. It is there to keep us safe." E-cow. "Ohhh."
But flying over the airport is my favourite thing! You wouldn't believe how surprised the pilots and passengers are when they see a drone outside their window :D
How exactly does my email get transmitted to the AeroScope? Does using a DJI drone just mean that my email address is transmitted over the air? Sounds like a new attack vector to collect email addresses that are confirmed and of people rich enough to own a drone.
Or does the drone just broadcast an ID and each AeroScope owner gets a regular feed of drone IDs and their corresponding email addresses? That sounds even worse for privacy. Does DJI just send a feed of all their users' personal email to anybody claiming to have a right to know it because they own a AeroScope or Is there legal oversight over all of this?
This is why you are *forced* to login to their app and register with their back-end - or your aircraft is limited to only flying a few meters in each direction. They didn't implement this "feature" for safety.
Dont know why people get so paranoid about drones and big brother tracking our every move. That particular horse was let loose from its stable years ago.
GPS satellites the world over contain packages that eavesdrop, analyse and intercept our words and speech for security services everywhere.
I am not that worried about a DJI drone buzzing around. I am more worried about some clown flying their drone into my personal space, or even worse, injuring someone or causing a major accident with an aircraft.
As I already wrote, any effective measures must be put in place with systems exogenous from the drones, themselves.
In this regard, this seems to be a very first good step but one that makes me ambivalent about it.
On one hand, it will weed-out dangerous (...intentional or accidental...) UAV operators from the brand I use and that is a good thing, if for nothing else, because it will drive dangerous dimwits out of our community.
OTOH, other brands UAV usage will still be left on their own potential idiocy and, most probably, there will just be "brand migration" with the sole purpose of avoiding DJI's technology and, most worrisome of all, home-built devices will still be quite far from any effective supervision, allowing for usages with very nefarious intents.
On a side note, I must take my hat off to DJI as they pulled the perfect business trick:
Sell a product that creates a "problem" and them sell another one to "solve" it. :)
I guess it's right. If some people are dumb enough to use stock drones for this kind of stuff, then it's good for society to send these fools to jail, just in case they do something even more sillier.
'a box shaped device' is from the text. In the video, you can see that the electronics are build into a pelican (like) suit case. So, it isn't a box shaped device, it just happens to be a load of logical boards in a suitcase.
Could I put a Spark on top of something like a very tall stepladder, leave the props off and the camera on, and make the world's longest consumer-grade drone video yet?
Seems to me you'll are missing the point. In my opinion, DJI is showing a real concern and responsibility for the potential mis-use of their drones.
In a perfect world, folks wouldn't fly their drones near airports or cause fire fighting aircraft to be grounded because of their selfish desire for that perfect shot of a burning forest.
But, all it takes is a few folks who don't consider the consequences of their actions when using their drones irresponsibly, and it results in these types of responses.
Personally, I applaud DJI for taking the imitative with this new tracking technology. It might not be perfect, but as far as I can see, it's a step in the right direction.
I disagree. DJI is throwing this out to deflect serious concerns about how they insecurely store customer data, and how a Chinese company can be collecting sensitive data from all manner of drone operations. They offer a bug bounty, yet are now taking legal action against a bounty hunter who found serious security problems on the DJI servers. See the articles today on The Verge and Ars Technica. DJI is the opposite of concerned and responsible except in maintaining their own reputation.
I cam here to make the same point as BJN. I would even go so far as to say that this tech is not just to deflect attention but as a sop to the authoritarian governments that want to track consumer drones and not just near airports and no fly zones. Like the US and China as a start.
surveillance of surveillance of surveillance .... the snake eats its tail and we are all diminished by this brave now world of everything and everyone watched .... with unequal access to the tools of the new paradigm .....
dji is starting to creep me out .... even the creepy military pentagon ghouls dont want it.or trust it .... that is telling
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