FCC moves to ban Lidar-equipped foreign drones from US
The FCC is proposing a retroactive ban on the import and sale of foreign-made drones equipped with LiDAR sensors, citing national security concerns. This move would expand existing restrictions on drones already on the agency's Covered List.
Why it matters
Demonstrates the tightening of US regulatory control over foreign technology and the impact on consumer drone availability.
Drone maker DJI says the "military-grade" label is a category error,
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(Image credit: DJI) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 3 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving to ban drones with LiDAR obstacle-avoidance features, a move that would remove a number of popular consumer drones from US shelves. In a public notice published in the Federal Register on August 3 (DA 26-758), the agency proposed retroactively banning the import and sale of any foreign-made drone on its Covered List that "contains or integrates" a LiDAR sensor, categorizing the technology under a broad "military-grade" umbrella.
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