Drone Giant Announces New, Free Tracking Solution

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Unauthorized drone flying has led to flight delays and cancellations at airports, costing the aviation industry millions of dollars. Industry is eying ways to better track and identify drones similar to the use of license plates for cars, ahead of eventual rules from regulators like the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

A new remote identification technology that would allow the public to track the registrations of drones in flight using just a smartphone, is under development by China’s DJI, the world’s largest commercial drone maker. The technology would allow its users for the first time to identify any modern drone with a phone.

The app would also display information such as the drone’s altitude, speed, direction of travel, and even the location of the operator. The aircraft’s ID number, if it has been registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), would also appear. 

The drone-to-phone transmission app was demonstrated at the United Nations aviation agency’s Drone Enable conference in Montreal. The free app will be rolled in 2020, pending regulatory approval, according to international news agencies. 

While remote identification technology is already available on the market, the services are for purchase, involve equipment, and are often aimed at groups like companies, airports and law enforcement.

DJI says its app would work on drones within a 1 kilometer (0.62 mile) range using WiFi Aware-enabled smartphones, according to nytimes.com.

“Remote identification is the #1 priority of the FAA with unmanned systems,” said Philip Kenul, who chairs an industry-led committee on drone identification standards.

The app would also provide reassurance to residents that the drone buzzing overhead is dropping off an order next door, and isn’t someone trying to take a video footage of your backyard, remarks digitaltrends.com.