Drones are becoming an integral part of our life. In the future they might control the weather, supply medicines, or maybe even become our best friends. Until that moment, we should consider developing drone regulations for our own safety. Researchers at Virginia Tech are studying the risk of injury caused by drone collision using a crash test dummy.


Virginia Tech is one of the FAA-approved drone test sites that by way of biomechanics and crash test science aims to gain a better understanding to the level of injury risks when it comes to using drones in everyday settings. The Federal Aviation Administration is working to develop acceptable risk thresholds and regulate the flight of unmanned aircraft over people in certain situations.


“The majority of applications would be much more effective if they weren’t restricted from operating over people, but you have to demonstrate that it can be done safely” says Mark Blanks, director of the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership“The risk of injury is very low, particularly with small aircraft. This research can mitigate those risks further. And we have the world’s best team doing it”.


At the moment, it is not allowed to operate drones over people unless a special permit has been granted. By safely flying drones into the faces of crash test dummies embedded with sensors, the research team is gathering data to assist the Federal Aviation Administration in its decision-making to evaluate the risks provoked by flying quadcopters to anyone on the ground.


Source: VT News

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