DJI has committed to installing airplane and helicopter detectors in its new consumer drones from 2020. The pledge is part one of a 10-point plan – also released today – to ensure the world’s skies remain as safe as possible as the drone industry takes off.

The addition of the AirSense feature, which works by receiving ADS-B signals from nearby airplanes and helicopters to warns drone pilots of manned aircraft proximity, will apply to all new DJI drone models released from 2020 that weigh over 250 grams.

Currently, AirSense is limited to a number of DJI’s enterprise drones, including the Mavic 2 Enterprise.  This commitment from DJI sets a new standard by putting professional-grade aviation safety technology in drones available to everyone.

Instead of relying on sound or sight – by which time it’s often too late to take evasive action – AirSense can detect airplanes and helicopters while they are still miles away.  The system displays their locations on the screen of the pilot’s remote controller. 

Read more: Could Manufacturers Do More to Ease the Drone Industry’s Collision Anxiety?

Elevating safety

“DJI leads the drone industry in developing safety technology and education, and we continue that tradition today by setting higher expectations for ourselves, our competitors and regulators,” said Brendan Schulman, DJI Vice President for Policy & Legal Affairs.

“DJI was the first company to offer geofencing, automatic altitude limits, return-to-home technology and other safety features to the world’s growing community of personal and professional drone pilots. We believe our efforts have helped drones attain their enviable safety record, and we expect our new agenda will further improve safety even as more drones take to the skies.”

DJI’s AirSense commitment is the first of 10 points in “Elevating Safety,” its new plan for how DJI, other drone manufacturers, and government officials around the world can maintain the industry’s safety record.

The 10 points are:

1)    DJI will install ADS-B receivers in all new drones above 250 grams

2)    DJI will develop a new automatic warning for drone pilots flying at extended distances

3)    DJI will establish an internal Safety Standards Group to meet regulatory and customer expectations

4)    Aviation industry groups must develop standards for reporting drone incidents

5)    All drone manufacturers should install geofencing and remote identification

6)    Governments must require remote identification

7)    Governments must require a user-friendly knowledge test for new drone pilots

8)    Governments must clearly designate sensitive restriction areas

9)    Local authorities must be allowed to respond to drone threats that are clear and serious

10)    Governments must increase enforcement of laws against unsafe drone operation

“Elevating Safety” is based on a comprehensive evaluation of available drone safety data, which concludes that most drone incident data collected by government regulators is misleading or useless, and shows that many media accounts of midair drone incidents are false or unproven.

“When the public, media and regulators focus on outrageous incidents that did not occur, it draws attention away from risks that are less sensational but more prevalent,” Schulman said.

“There has never been a confirmed collision between a drone and an airplane, but drones have struck low-flying helicopters at least twice. This led us to focus on AirSense as the next opportunity to make drones safer, and to embrace the challenge of adding ADS-B receivers to consumer drone models that are already in development.”

Starting January 1, 2020, #DJI will install AirSense ADS-B receivers in every new drone model we release weighing more than 250 grams. This is an extraordinary step forward for drone safety. pic.twitter.com/GL94PEYxjd

— DJI (@DJIGlobal) May 22, 2019

There is consensus that installing AirSense in mainstream consumer drones is an important step for protecting manned aircraft and their pilots. DJI’s timing aligns with the FAA’s upcoming requirement for essentially all airplanes and helicopters to be equipped with ADS-B transmitters in controlled airspace, starting January 1, 2020.

“Expanding the availability of AirSense to DJI pilots is a meaningful step forward in safely integrating UAS and reducing conflicts with manned aircraft,” said Rune Duke, Senior Director of Airspace and Air Traffic at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

“ADS-B In is used daily by thousands of pilots to increase their situational awareness and ensure safe operations. As the general aviation fleet further equips with ADS-B Out and other NextGen technology, enhancements like AirSense will allow all pilots to maximize their investment. All of aviation will benefit from the incorporation of this technology into DJI’s large fleet.”

Since 2017, #DJI engineers have spent more than 30,000 hours developing and refining safety technology like geofencing, AeroScope remote identification, and AirSense ADS-B receivers. pic.twitter.com/WcO3NCKEfw

— DJI (@DJIGlobal) May 22, 2019

“The aerial application industry has over 3,500 agricultural pilots that help farmers grow over 28 percent of our nation’s commercial cropland. They are flying 10 feet off the ground at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. As such, they must have great focus and precision with the important job they are performing,” said Andrew Moore, Executive Director at the National Agricultural Aviation Association.

“Studies show that small drones are nearly impossible for our pilots to see, let alone track. An ideal drone system for manned ag pilots is one that has an ADS-B tracking system that can sense and avoid agricultural and other manned aircraft. DJI has taken the first step towards this by now equipping all of their drones with ADS-B tracking so their drone operators will be aware of other aircraft equipped with ADS-B tracking technology.”