GeospatialEnvironmentOnline
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Drone-maker DJI starts testing GPS-based flight restrictions
After some rather high-profile incidents of drones ending up where they don't belong, manufacturers rushed to find a solution. Otherwise they might have found themselves on the wrong side of some very tough legislation. DJI just launched its solution, Geospatial Environment Online or GEO. It's a geofencing system that keeps your drone from taking off in restricted areas... unless you have a verified DJI account and a credit card on file that is. See, while you can't just go out and fly through Washington DC willy nilly, you can promise to be financially accountable and DJI will turn off the restrictions temporarily.Right now GEO is in beta, so you'll have to either request access to the app on iOS by emailing flysafe@dji.com or you can download the Android APK directly. You'll also need to update the firmware on your drone. If you're not the type to mess with potentially unstable software, don't worry, the final version shouldn't be too far behind.
DJI's drone safety system has you signing up to fly in some areas
DJI is understandably nervous about where you fly its drones given that one owner trespassed on White House grounds, and it's rolling out a new geofencing system to make sure that these kinds of incidents don't happen again -- just hours after rivals 3DR did the same. Its Geospatial Environment Online service gives you updated info on where you're allowed to fly drones, including time-sensitive restrictions. You can't fly over prisons, for instance, and you may face a ban when there's a raging forest fire. However, it also has a unique way of handling exceptions: as long as you're willing to register with a payment card or phone number, you can fly in some restricted areas. In theory, this lets you enjoy your drone in more places while holding you accountable if you screw up.
