New Army radar could put drones in domestic airspace in 2014

New Army radar could put drones in domestic airspace in 2014

The U.S. Army announced that it has completed a two-week test of its Ground-Based Sense and Avoid system, which will allow drones and unmanned aircraft to fly more safely in domestic airspace. The system will allow for safer flights with less manpower and oversight, though it doesn't address the concerns citizens might still have regarding UAVs in their neighborhoods.

Drones have been on the fast track at the FAA ever since their latest budget arrived with language suggesting they get moving on legalizing them. Police, national guard, scientists, everyone wants a drone, and while caution is a virtue at the FAA, sometimes things need to be expedited. Late 2015 is the hard limit on having regulations in place, and so the FAA is working with drone makers and operators to set down, for lack of a better term, some ground rules.

Part of those rules is a "sense and avoid" system, with which an unmanned aircraft can detect other craft in the same airspace and make the appropriate adjustments to its flight path. Today, that often means a chase aircraft with a human observer, but low visibility or darkness can put an end to that. Ideally, the craft itself would house instruments capable of scanning the area, but ground-based systems can be more comprehensive and more reliable, though they are less portable.

It's incredible how much domestic drone programs have been in the news, lately. It seems everyday there is a new story of how drones are going to be used more and more by our local, state, and federal government. Our government just can't spy on us enough by listening to our private phone conversations and reading our text messages and e-mails. No, now they have to have the ability to fly over-head at thousands of feet and be able to count the hairs on your head.

Drones have been in domestic airspace for quite a while. And they are far more advanced than what you will find on the Internet.

Jesus Freaking Christ.

reply to post by PhantomLimb


There are currently 7 ground based sensors in operation across the country, most of the in the Southwest. There are already three more locations picked for current sensors.

reply to post by PhantomLimb


Just imagine a time when we get violations in the mail:

Drone observed you going through a stop sign. Fine of $250
Drone observed you littering: Fine of $100
Drone observed you exposing yourself while urinating in woods: Fine of $1000 and placed on sex offender registry

I wouldn't want to be living 20 years from now.

reply to post by jiggerj


I wouldn't call that living.

Who am I kidding? Drones have been flying around in our airspace for years now. Hell, they're probably responsible for half the threads in the Aliens and UFOs forum.

This tech has been put into practice for years now.

imho I don't care about the drones, whatever bring them on. Satellites can already do just as much if not more. I downloaded a GPS speedometer app for my phone and it tells you how many satellites it's connected to.. ELEVEN was the highest I it. Eleven satellites that's a LOT that were all connected to me and pinpointing my exact location down to a 2 meter radius. Thinking about how many other MILLIONS of people each of those satellites is tracking at the same time who also have GPS apps or a GPS device. That's scary to think a single satellite can track the exactly location of millions of people all across the country simultaneously. That's IMHO much more powerful than a drone which is only localized. Now multiply it by eleven.

And lets not forget the government and millitary have satellites that can read words on a penny or dime on the ground, and infrared heat signature satellites that can see what you are doing... INSIDE your house at any time (see it doesn't even matter if you have a roof over your head and 4 walls around you! They know what you are doing at all times if they want to.