A six-member panel of security-minded industry leaders spent a Tuesday afternoon session explaining and exploring what many consider to be an increasingly important, under-examined question: What precautions should companies that use unmanned aircraft be taking to ward off cyber attacks? The group, along with other security experts not present, took up the question to help the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems  develop what is being called a “Cyber SORA” (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) protocol. JARUS is expected to release a document for external comment in the coming week.

Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented new regulations addressing the remote identification of drones and drone operations over people and at night. The rules make critical steps toward assured autonomy by enabling more complex UAS uses, which will ultimately lead to more drone deliveries, public safety operations, and infrastructure inspections.  During today’s XPONENTIAL 2021 sessions, AUVSI hosted a panel of leading experts who were involved in the rulemaking process. Their discussion on next steps and standardization demonstrated why AUVSI approaches public policy under the umbrella of three principles: safety and security, government-industry collaboration, and performance-based regulations.  

The virtual segment of AUVSI’s annual XPONENTIAL event, the world’s largest conference focused on the unmanned systems industry, launched today with a keynote address by Robert Hampshire, PhD. As Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Science Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Dr. Hampshire possesses deep expertise in both public policy and engineering systems. His research has focused on infrastructure issues around environmental impacts and equal access to opportunities. In his remarks, Dr. Hampshire shared DOT’s priorities under the new Administration for the years ahead and how unmanned systems fit into those priorities.