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(RPAS/SUAS) A1 Class, (C-UAS) DJI AeroScope


Any and all information I post will be obtained through open source materials, and any views or opinions expressed will be my own.

 

The difference between a toy and SUAS and whether you need an Op number for your drone.

'My drone is a toy' is a phrase that causes a lot of debate amongst people. A lot of people go out and buy a Mavic Mini as its below 250g and they believe its a toy so don't register it, which is fine until your caught. If you look below at the snippet from CAP 2008 it clearly states that over 250g even if its a toy you need to register your drone, if a camera is fitted or not a toy (main statement there "Camera fitted") you are required to register your drone regardless of its weight.



The above only seems to confuse a lot of people and rightly so, would it have not been easier to have the the options camera fitted, no camera fitted personally I think that would alleviate some of the misunderstanding. If you only ever fly indoors though never outside you don't need to register your drone. But to be honest if your going to spend a decent amount on a drone what is £9 a year.

Although insurance is not a requirement for non commercial pilots it is worth looking into recreational insurance, I pay just under £30 a year but it covers me for public liability just in case something should go wrong, that's to fly recreationally, commercially I use another insurance which I can increase and decrease depending on the job.

So you've gone out brought yourself a new Mini 2, you've checked local rules and your allowed to fly in your local park, but they stipulate you have to use propeller guards. You have them fitted and your flying away in the A1 category or so you think!! As soon as you fit anything to any sub 250g drone if the attachment increases the Maximum takeoff weight to over 250g you move to the next category. Again this isn't explained to well but is common sense if you think about it.

If the CAA continues to follow EASA the Mini and Mini 2 could both be put into the A3 category after December 22. EASA take the drone weight with any attachments that can be fitted and then put it into the correct category, whereas the CAA currently go of off the MTW for the drone as is, if you add attachments you change the category accordingly. Something to look out for.

 

Any and all information I post will be obtained through open source materials, and any views or opinions expressed will be my own.

 


DJI C-UAS System - DJI AeroScope

While other UAS companies were out making new drones DJI thought ahead!! As they owned over 90% of the off the shelf drone market back in 2016 they saw the emerging threat coming, and created DJI AeroScope. When you look back to 2016 the drone threat was only just emerging and CUAS systems were only just becoming a thing back then I believe there was only about 10 to 20 companies creating systems, and these came with a big price tag.


DJI created AeroScope, with 2 main platforms and with 2 different types of Antenna. The 2 platforms are the mobile unit and the stationary unit both do exactly the same but ones mobile and uses DJI batteries to power itself as well as the ability to use car/mains power. The stationary unit is a mains powered unit and uses a separate computer to see the data while the mobile unit is self contained. Although mobile it doesn't mean it can be fitted to a vehicle!! It means you can move to an area and turn it on quick and easy for short range detect features. With the stationary unit you have 2 different antenna options, G8 and G16 both offer the same features when attached to the stationary unit but ranges on both vary greatly.


If you look at the market DJI currently holds about 75% of the market in drones so even now this system is still prevalent, but the main drama with this system is it will only pick up DJI drone after 2014!! For the money you pay this system compared to others on the market you do get a lot, and it offers a great detect and track system, showing position of pilot and drone without the need for multiple antennas. If as a small CUAS company you are tasked with securing an area without a geofence you can create your own warning/alert zone to indicate to pilots they are in an area with extra limitations!!


I've kept this short, as without actually testing the systems first hand I can only go off others reviews and the technical data offline. For the price these systems would make a great addition to a CUAS System you already have in place, and in some case they can be augmented into existing systems. Although compared to other units the price is low be aware there maybe extra costs as this system operates of an AWS server!!

 

Any and all information I post will be obtained through open source materials, and any views or opinions expressed will be my own.

 

Next time

RPAS/SUAS - I can fly and get paid!!

C-UAS - Quick view of Drone incidents through the 2021

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