Communications of the ACM
With Drone Deliveries on the Horizon, Europe Moves to Set Ground Rules
A group of companies are testing their unmanned aviation technology on a former military airfield outside Brussels, to help European authorities develop rules for the commercial use of drones.
Credit: Christophe Archambault/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
A group of companies are testing their unmanned aviation technology at a former military airfield outside Brussels with the goals of proving that drones can fly along their delivery routes without crashing into each other, and that they can be tracked in crowded skies.
The Safir initiative aims to help European authorities develop a standardized set of regulations for the commercial use of drones.
Mark Vanlook, CEO of DronePort, the new facility where the tests will take place, said the initiative "is about testing 10 drones with different purposes, applications, and IT systems."
In addition to retailers seeking to make drone deliveries, participants include companies that produce drones that can make medical transports, assist law enforcement, inspect power lines, and monitor wildlife.
As long as they pass a series of safety and certification tests, participants will hold a live demonstration over Antwerp, Belgium, later this year.
From The New York Times
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