Topic: Uas

The FAA's recently released regulations for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) effectively prohibit long-distance commercial drone delivery. Key rules include a 55-pound weight limit, a 500-foot altitude ceiling, and a strict requirement for the operator to maintain a direct line of sight with the drone. These restrictions suggest that hyped projects like Amazon Prime Air are currently not legally viable in the United States.

The Department of Defense is commissioning a study on the recruitment of "cyberspace experts" for both offensive and defensive network operations. Simultaneously, the NDAA mandates a report on the integration of unmanned aerial systems (drones) into the national airspace system. This includes the development of pilot programs to accelerate the use of drones within domestic borders.

The U.S. Army enters a memorandum of understanding with Middle Tennessee State University to develop Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology. The hosts highlight the massive scale of the drone industry, noting the existence of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. They also critique the Navy's funding of a "Robo Soccer" team as a questionable use of taxpayer money.