Recent influxes of laws prohibiting the use of Chinese-made drones have sparked growing concerns about the security of commercial drones and how they handle data, mirroring similar measures taken by other countries to address privacy risks. Politicians have responded by developing their own guidelines on how to make industrial drones safer.
While bans and tariffs might appear to be swift solutions, they can also have significant, unforeseen consequences. Criticisms surrounding the ban on affordable Chinese-made drones suggest that restricting access to these cost-effective options could have a disproportionate, negative impact on smaller businesses with limited financial resources, potentially stifling their ability to compete with larger corporations and government agencies.
Meanwhile, numerous private companies are adopting alternative solutions to ensure drone technology is utilized safely – without resorting to an outright ban.
DJI has proactively positioned itself as a safer option for US consumers. clients. As of June 27, 2024, DJI no longer provides U.S.? Operators using DJI drones outside of the U.S. must ensure they have valid licenses and adhere to local regulations, as the company’s global compliancy requirements still apply.
And that’s not all. Throughout 2024, there has been a notable surge in initiatives aimed at enhancing the security of drone intelligence. Several prominent options originate from leading drone companies like DroneDeploy and AirData. Here’s a look at how personal companies are working to make industrial drones safer – no ban needed.
DroneDeploy unveils groundbreaking safety protocols with the launch of its industry-first Safety Firewall for industrial-grade drones.
In June 2024, DroneDeploy, a pioneering drone software company headquartered in San Francisco, unveiled its latest innovation. DockDefend is a comprehensive system of community safety protocols specifically designed to complement the DJI Dock 1, enhancing overall security and risk mitigation.
Drones often utilize standard docking systems, commonly referred to as “drone-in-a-box,” which facilitate seamless touchdowns, effortless recharging, and organized storage. They are often standard in remote locations where constant monitoring by a human operator would be impractical or even tedious? Recently, some of the top-rated drone docking systems have demonstrated remarkable superiority. They are capable of storing and sending knowledge back to groups, often utilizing cloud technology for seamless sharing. It’s precisely the efficient storage and transmission of information where Dock Defend proves its critical value.
“With the docked drone operating autonomously without human presence on-site, securing its operations becomes paramount for ensuring profitable outcomes,” said Ashutosh Agrawal, Threat Director at DroneDeploy. “The company is employing various strategies to counter concerns about Chinese technology, including the protection of proprietary knowledge.”
The community safety protocols developed by DroneDeploy’s Dock Defend aim to limit connections from drone docks, including those from DJI, only to authorized U.S. entities controlled by DroneDeploy. servers. The antivirus software operates by creating a robust firewall mechanism. The secure communication link established in flip ensures that interactions are confined exclusively to DroneDeploy and the drone itself, fostering a private and controlled exchange of information.
This solution ensures that drone information reaches its intended destination securely.
Although originally designed specifically for the DJI Dock 1 and its successor, Dock Defend can still be adapted to work with other drones as well. Dronedeploy also intends to release a comparable solution for the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise by year-end 2024, mirroring its existing offerings.
As the CEO Agrawal acknowledged, safety concerns had historically been relatively minor among DroneDeploy’s client base, with him confidently asserting that “DroneDeploy is essentially the most secure platform on the market.” Nevertheless, amid the surge in anti-China legislation and debate, the company is proactively evolving its offerings.
According to Agrawal, DJI drones remain incredibly popular among DJI customers.
While dramatic shifts in rhetoric surrounding DJI occurred over the past year, widespread adoption of this technology continues unabated in the United States, with no signs of slowing down. Rivals are rarely capable of creating drones that meet every potential use case requirement, according to Agrawal.
Instead of investing in a completely new, US-made drone, DroneDeploy is wisely opting for a more moderate approach by leveraging the tried-and-tested safety features already built into DJI drones.
“While firewalls offer a practical solution for mitigating security risks when using Chinese-made hardware, they should not be relied upon as the sole means of protection.” While firewalls have been a tried-and-true method for ensuring network security, they remain a crucial identified and widely accepted solution for addressing safety concerns.
Clients of AirData are enabled to upload flight data independently of DJI’s cloud.
AirData is a California-based online platform providing comprehensive drone fleet management and real-time flight monitoring capabilities. The app allows users to synchronise their flight logs from DJI without needing to access the DJI Cloud.
Despite DJI’s 2024 decision to disable the “Sync Flight Information” function on its flight apps, connecting to the DJI cloud, AirData offers alternative syncing options for pilots to track and review their flight activities.
Several methods enable you to accomplish this feat, reminiscent of the AirData UAV cell app, which can seamlessly integrate flight logs directly into AirData, thereby circumventing DJI’s cloud infrastructure. This technique is straightforward and equally secure, ensuring that your expertise remains within your control. You may also manually add logs to AirData by extracting flight logs from your drone and then importing them via .
According to Trevor Corridor, an AirData representative, this aptitude fulfills multiple purposes.
“According to him, the preference for directly uploading logs to AirData via their mobile app, bypassing DJI’s servers, stems from a desire for improved privacy and a more streamlined process.” The decision to make this call is typically initiated by the customer themselves, often in conjunction with their workplace. Our authority-based business clients are keen on leveraging our mobile app to log entries.
As regulations on commercial drone use continue to evolve, industries are increasingly recognizing the potential benefits of incorporating these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into their operations. However, ensuring the safety of both people and property when flying industrial drones remains a pressing concern? The stakes are high when it comes to industrial drone operations – damage or injury could result in significant financial losses, not to mention reputational harm.
There are some best practices you may impose on yourself or your organisation to ensure drone flights remain safe. Consider these fundamental best practices
Ensure timely deployment of firmware patches that address critical security weaknesses. Ensure that you take a secure route to prevent unauthorised firmware from being loaded.
Don’t overlook bodily safety. What measures would ensure that a fallen or abandoned bodily drone doesn’t fall into the wrong hands? Are you perhaps leaving your luggage unattended in checked baggage or somewhere else outside? If a situation arises where circumstances are potentially hazardous, remain vigilant and prepared to respond appropriately. Critical components, such as the flight controller and GPS unit, require tamper-proofing to prevent unauthorized modifications or hardware implants. Simple locks on industrial drones’ cases could significantly enhance their overall safety.
It’s not simply drones. Multi-factor authentication should be enabled for all online accounts, including email, social media, and even drone management applications. This prevents unauthorized entry. This may contain sensitive information such as passwords, biometric data, or hardware tokens.
Through the implementation of a harmonious blend of these measures, drone manufacturers, governments, and pilots can collaborate to establish a safer drone environment, rendering a blanket prohibition unnecessary. This initiative will simultaneously address national security concerns and foster public trust. Ideally, this will pave the way for broader industrial drone adoption, rather than stifling growth through potential bans.
