USA - Drone popularity is on the uprise and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is trying to keep up.

No-fly zones, which seek to protect anything from aircrafts, to privacy, to highly-attended events, carry with them strict penalties enforced by law. But while your intentions may not be nefarious, mistakes happen that can result in anything from criminal penalties, to questioning by law enforcement. And now, with mandatory registration for all drones, it will be much easier for the FAA to track unmanned aircrafts in restricted areas.

The issue is such that NASA has put its great minds to the task of discovering a failsafe for drone owners to prevent them from drifting into these no-fly zones.

Tech Times reports that the solution they have created, aptly called “Safeguard,” is a technology that acts as a virtual leash to the drone, and works as a last-ditch effort to prevent you from paying the high price of having your drone flying in the red. According to the report, Safeguard operates individually from the owner to ensure the drone does not go where it legally shouldn’t.

According to the video above, which gives more detail of NASA’s Safeguard technology, your drone will actually lock the pilot out and bring the drone down before it goes where it shouldn’t. But when we say “last-ditch effort,” we mean it. If, for whatever reason, that autopilot intervention doesn’t work, it will actually shut the drone’s motor systems down and drop it.

Hawk Aerial, LLC, offers commercial drone systems, training, and flight operations to help companies use this technology quickly, safely, and efficiently. With products like the Field Hawk, which is specific to ag precision, the company looks to help bring more drones to the agriculture industry. 

“Like most commercial drone operators, safety is our #1 priority and we will earnestly support appropriate measures in that regard,” Kevin J. Gould, CEO of Hawk shared with us on this newest measure. “The ‘Virtual Leash’ technology is intriguing, but I’m always concerned about overly restrictive systems that are difficult to implement and go beyond the targeted harm. The FAA has done an incredible job over the years promoting manned aircraft safety through use of education, pilot certification, and procedures – I believe a similar ‘compliance’ approach would be effective in the promotion of drone safety as well.”

A less drastic measure that is usually practiced is through geo-fencing, but that’s not required in all drones and isn't always a guarantee.

Will this be the solution Congress and the FAA are looking for to balance the drone craze with the safety concerns? AndNowUKnow will continue to follow any developments as drones become increasingly more useful for members of the produce industry.