Yes I agree this will continue to run its just the start of the...

Yes I agree this will continue to run its just the start of the upward breakout, lots of media and investors heading to Sydney next week for the live Mesmer demonstration which should give a good kick along to the SP

Some more media drone coverage.....


Courier Mail

Lifestyle

#techtalk

Jacinda Tutty

28 October 2016

p. 22


Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s a piece of dynamic remotely operated navigation equipment. That’s a drone, for all you novices.


These unpiloted devices are taking over the skies and creating all sorts of opportunities, or misadventures, depending on who you talk to.


You need only open Google to see the internet is awash with footage of unlucky punters whose drones have crashed into wedding guests, knocked out Olympic athletes, or been snatched by disgruntled eagles.


But on the other side of the coin, there’s no shortage of businesses touting incredible opportunities for drones.


Amazon and Queensland’s own Domino’s are locked in an arms race to be the first to roll out door-to-door drone delivery. And with the relaxation of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s regulations around civilian and commercial drones last month, that vision is one step closer to reality.


The only fly in the ointment is the public relations problems suffered by drones.


Before businesses can clear logistical hurdles to bring drones into our everyday lives, they face a hard sell to show consumers that drones aren’t evil machines used in war or invasions of privacy.


Domino’s has spent the past two years pouring money into developing a military-grade pizza-delivery drone that will undergo testing in New Zealand this year.


Choosing to invent drones themselves rather than hire them from tech whizzes in Silicon Valley, the Queensland company is one of the first to test this brave new world of dronedelivery.


Australia Post is also gearing up to trial something similar to help cut rising costs in the postal business.


Sceptics have called the programs “gimmicks”, but the reality is, drone delivery could be a big cost saver for businesses of the future – if they can get it right.


Environmental programs have made a lot of headway in turning around the drone’s “bad-boy” reputation, and high-profile people such as Queensland Telstra Businesswoman of the Year Catherine Ball are passionate advocates. Ball has talked up the benefits of sending drones to do dangerous work, such as testing the ferocity of a cyclone, or to places that are difficult to reach.


CASA’s sweeping changes have relaxed the rules around recreational drones, while making sure commercial operators have the expertise to use them safely.


Under the new rules, commercial droneoperators, those using drones over 2kg, will need to be licensed and/or certified by CASA.


Certification comes in the form of a remote pilot licence that allows individuals to fly for operators, who in turn need to hold a remotely piloted aircraft certificate. To get this, punters have to complete a course and prove they have sound aeronautic knowledge.


Recreational users, on the other hand, are free from the regulations and don’t have to pay the $1400 fee.


The changes mean almost anyone can send adrone into the air as long as they stay within certain airspace boundaries and heights, and avoid “controlled” aerodromes. The only issue with this is that it relies on people to both understand and comply with those rules.


It’s one thing to cheekily fly a drone a little above the legal limit of 120m in your own backyard; it’s quite another to power up your UAV to 1200m in the path of planes.


A few hairy situations have arisen recently where a dentist and his wife survived a near miss when a drone crashed into their car on Sydney Harbour Bridge. And a Queensland man also copped a fine for sending a drone up to get some footage. He was caught because his exploits were uploaded to YouTube.


Any untrained child who makes pocket money from doing video pranks and uploading them to the internet now has access to a machine capable of bringing down a domestic plane.


The failure to comply with the 5.5km radius “no-fly zone” is becoming a real concern for airports, airlines and helipads.


There’s no doubt drones will play a big role in the future of business but the challenges mean there is still a long way to go before the skies will be buzzing with drones delivering pizza, post or online shopping.


Amazon and Queensland’s own Domino’s are locked in an arms race to be the first to roll out door-to-door drone delivery


NEW DRONE REGULATIONS Recreational rules Only fly in visual line-of-sight during the day. No night flying.No flying in or through cloud or fog.Be able to see the aircraft with your eyes at all times.No flying closer than 30m to vehicles, boats, buildings or people.No flying over populated areas such as beaches, parks, or sports ovals. Fly only in controlled airspace, which covers most Australian cities.No flying higher than 120m.No flying in a way that creates a hazard to other aircraft, eg. keep at least 5.5km away from airfields, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites.Commercial rules over 2kg Those wanting to fly a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) commercially in Australia, outside the excluded category, need to be licensed and/or certified.Users need a remote pilot licence (RePL) to fly for operators, who in turn need an RPA operator’s certificate (ReOC).There are two ways to gain RePL:If you have no prior aviation knowledge, you will need to complete a course with an RPA systems training provider.If you have passed an aeronautic knowledge exam for a flight crew licence, you can complete operation (practical type) training with an RPA training provider.