During this weekend鈥檚 Olympic coverage, many spectators noticed a small, spiderlike drone . Well, get used to it. Camera-carrying drones are likely to become the norm at large sporting events. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can capture angles, get close to athletes, and highlight new perspectives like nothing before.
What鈥檚 unique about the drones being used at the Olympics is their ability to transmit high-definition video to live TV. These aren鈥檛 your hobby shop RC helicopters; top-of-the-line units can cost up to $40,000, and that doesn鈥檛 include the often more expensive camera you鈥檙e trusting the drone to fly.
Following Amazon鈥檚 announcement about using drones for delivery, the . The six-month pilot program will deliver IDs and driver鈥檚 licenses to citizens across the seven emirates. A full-time drone service will be rolled out early next year.
Also this weekend, a Connecticut man flew his near Hartford. Although the police did not arrest him for flying the drone, their report was a catalyst for a separate FAA investigation. The FAA still prohibits using drones for any sort of commercial use in the United States; however, the agency has recently authorized test programs, which will likely loosen regulations over time.
The Connecticut man was reportedly a freelance journalist with ties to a local news station. The station later said the man was not .