Contemporary Matters 2017_Drones

TOPIC ‖ DRONES CONTEMPORARY MATTERS PPRI

LUNCH

SERIES

PPRI lunch series

Drones

Faculty across disciplines, from cross-cutting

Drones are growing in popularity, developing

STEM fields, humanities, and social sciences,

in capability, and varying in their use at a faster

discuss a common topic or contemporary

rate than safety and security regulations can

matter from the lens of their field. The

develop. A more robust and in-depth

conversation is open to all participants in the

understanding of critical issues is needed to

room, bringing the strength of the collective

develop fresh approaches and alternative

disciplines to bear on a wicked problem.

policy solutions to address these problems as they arise.

Experts

Sarah Hubbard Aaron Hoffman Aviation Tech Political Science

Dan Kelly Philosophy

Brett Crawford Management

Brian Kozak Aviation Tech

PURDUE POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Tyler Spence PPRI

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an initial policy statement in regards to drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in 2012, which outlined the necessity for a comprehensive plan to integrate UAS into the national air space system (NAS) by 2015. This has yet to be completed. The group acknowledged possible gaps in the policies where this new and changing technology is not taken into account or the effects have not been fully realized. Most of the policy issued is centered on registration, privacy, civil liberties protections, and safety and security, individually. However, a comprehensive policy direction that takes all of these topics into account has yet to be outlined.

Governance: Today & Tomorrow It is unknown if drone flight is an issue of federal

Regulations do prohibit drone operators from

airspace or if state and local authorities should be

deploying their small aircraft into spaces where any

regulating UAS flight and usage. Panel experts

kind of commercial or private aircraft would be

suggest Federal oversight by the FAA coupled with

flying, but this can be challenging to enforce, If a

local enforcement is best, as the ability for these

drone were to enter this restricted airspace, air

local bodies to establish regulations that are specific

traffic controllers and pilots would have no way of

and beneficial to their areas would likely improve

communicating with the operator, and this could

compliance. However, as one panelist pointed out,

be a potential collision risk. Current regulations

local FAA authorities currently oversee local flight

state the drone operator must keep the drone in

standards and often have a hard time handling the

their line of sight, as to avoid colliding with other

current manned aircraft. If local regulators are

drones. Radio transmitters have been developed

expected to handle manned and unmanned aircraft

that can seize control of drones in emergency

together, it may be difficult to ensure safe and

situations. This could be a potential solution to stop

efficient airspace management.

drones that enter restricted airspace.

Integration into airspace management can also be a

Drones also have corporate applications, and it is

challenge for air traffic controllers and drone

not known if or how regulatory oversight will

operators.

impede their development, use, or bottom line.

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Privacy The right to privacy and property rights are also an issue when considering drone/UAS policy. The ownership of airspace above an individual citizen’s home and owned property is not clearly established by law, as one panelist pointed out. It is not clear if drone operators have the legal right to fly an UAS over a private citizen’s home and record what is seen without their permission. Different standards and interpretations have been suggested, but no clear “correct” answer has

Current retail drones are loud and easily spotted, due to their relatively low

been identified.

flight ceiling, but military and corporate drones have the ability to fly

It is not known if or how

powered cameras. It is likely only a matter of time before retail technology

drones could be used for spying on citizens by domestic or foreign entities.

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undetected by the public and have the capability to be fitted with highcatches up and becomes significantly easier to use without detection. This presents a serious privacy issue for many Americans and presents a regulatory and policy challenge as drone technology becomes more advanced and more readily available for government, commercial and private consumption.

Did You Know...?

The FAA now requires some drones to be registered with the government.

There are 86 consumer drone models available, and 57 of these models MUST be registered. Drone operators should also pass the Part 107 AKT for a license to operate drones!

For more info and to register your drone, visit: http://registermyuas.faa.gov image via www.federaldroneregistration.com

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Moral & Ethical Issues Many moral and ethical issues are raised by the use of drones and these issues are similar to many found in other developing automation fields. In military warfare, drones have demonstrated ability to execute more precise weapons attacks, lowering the number of civilian causalities. Civilians in war-torn regions have voiced their approval of these precision strikes. However, it has been reported that civilians adjacent to these areas have a negative perception of the drone strikes, despite having little real experience with them. Nonetheless, this negative attention creates a public relations challenge for UAS warfare. In order to continue funding their development and use, it is critical that social acceptance of their participation in war is gained.

It is also unknown how drone strikes are to be interpreted in domestic war laws and international war courts.

President Obama conducted drone strikes in Africa and the Middle East without notice or approval of Congress, as drones are considered machines and not human warfare. This was seen as somewhat subversive behavior that exploited a loophole in the law and highlights a clear gap in how policy has fallen behind UAS technology.

Panel Highlights A rising number of drone pilots are reporting PTSD from bombing missions.

Could consumers weaponize commercial drones? Could they be programmed to kill like a gun?

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What level of risk will society accept with drones? Will deaths via drone be normalized?

Drone vs. drone warfare - new skill set that has yet to be developed. How to define drone warcrimes?

RESEARCH

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