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Hobbyist Drones
Payload and Mission Capabilities

Invited Presentation to a Workshop on Remotely Piloted Airborne Vehicles and Related Technologies,
organised by Philip Hall, President of IEEE SSIT (Society on Social Implications of Technology,
in conjunction with Adam Molnar of Deakin University, at the
University of Melbourne, 29 September 2014

Version of 29 September 2014

Roger Clarke **

(c) Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 2014

This document is at http://www.rogerclarke.com/SOS/Drones-IEEE-140929.html

The slide-set is at Drones-IEEE-140929.pdf (5.6MB)

Background

The invited group of 25 people considered the capabilities of 'drones' (by whatever name), and the need for a robust regulatory framework for their use.

The second session spent 1-1/2 hours on the payload and mission capabilities of personally-owned and -operated drones, the risks arising from them, and the options for a regulatory framework to address those risks.

The structure of the session was:

• scope of the session ('hobbyist'? 'personally-operated'?)
• use contexts
• public safety considerations
• surveillance and privacy issues
• the concept of a regulatory framework
• regulatory options in relation to public safety
• regulatory options in relation to surveillance and privacy

Key Points

Regulatory arrangements for drones vary between countries, but in Australia (slides 33-35):

• large drones above 150kg are subject to a substantial regime
• medium drones 25kg-150kg are subject to a lightweight regime
• small drones under 25kg, especially under 7kg, and perhaps shortly even more so under 2kg, are subject to limited rules which are almost entirely unenforced

Small drones have quite abruptly become capable of considerable payloads and flight-times, for low up-front and running costs. They have limited safety features, and they are subject to a long list of 'failure modes' (slide 16). They are capable of considerable harm to public safety (slides 17-18), and they represent a considerable threat to behavioural privacy (slides 20-25).

Small drones give rise to substantial risks (slides 6-10, 31). The current regulatory framework does not adequately manage those risks. The responsible regulator (CASA) lacks the resources to enforce existing laws, and has moved slowly in relation to adapting the regulatory framework. CASA's response appears to have been to find ways to reduce its obligations, in particular by reducing the obligations of the users of small drones. Substantial risks will continue to be unaddressed. Accidents are waiting to happen.

One major issue is that the existing size-based regime is inadequate. An effective risk assessment has to be based on a range of factors, including size, velocity, mission, location, device capabilities, and pilot and operator capabilities.

A regulatory framework comprises a range of measures (slides 27-28). In relation to the public safety aspects of small drones, the existing regulatory framework is seriously inadequate. Despite the availability of a range of measures (slides 32, 38-42), there is at present no proposal to improve it. A parliamentary committee has noticed that there's a problem, but the parliament itself hasn't, and the regulatory agency is dragging its feet and appears likely to reduce public protections still further.

In relation to the privacy and surveillance aspects of drones generally, the existing regulatory framework is close to non-existent (slides 44-45). Opportunities exist to address those problems as well (slides 46, 48).

Accidents are waiting to happen. Harm will result not only to people and property, but also to the prospects of the drone industry. Regulatory frameworks are needed that satisfy the criteria for an effective regulatory regime, in relation to:

• the public safety aspects of small drones
• visual surveillance generally, including that conducted with the aid of aircraft, including drones of all sizes

Author Affiliations

Roger Clarke is Principal of Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, Canberra. He is also a Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre at the University of N.S.W., and a Visiting Professor in the Research School of Computer Science at the Australian National University.

The content and infrastructure for these community service pages are provided by Roger Clarke through his consultancy company, Xamax. From the site's beginnings in August 1994 until February 2009, the infrastructure was provided by the Australian National University. During that time, the site accumulated close to 30 million hits. It passed 75 million in late 2024. Sponsored by the Gallery, Bunhybee Grasslands, the extended Clarke Family, Knights of the Spatchcock and their drummer

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Created: 29 September 2014 - Last Amended: 29 September 2014 by Roger Clarke - Site Last Verified: 15 February 2009
This document is at www.rogerclarke.com/SOS/Drones-IEEE-140929.html
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