DJI follows on the December 2018 incidents in Gatwick London airport-- where the sightings of drones brought about the closure of the runway of one of the busiest airports in Europe-- with an update on the geofencing technology inside its drones.
The Geospatial Environmental Online (GEO) 2.0 system update affects drones in 13 European countries already covered by the original GEO system, as well as 19 more countries previously lacking in advanced geofencing. According to the company, GEO reflects the actual safety risks posed when flying drones around sensitive facilities, while being more flexible in lower-risk areas.
As DJI puts it, GEO 2.0 creates three-dimensional "bow tie" safety zones surrounding runway flight paths, as well as complex polygonal shapes around other sensitive facilities, instead of the simple circles used in the previous version. It also includes Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) imposed during major events or natural disasters, as based on data from Eurocontrol.
“DJI is eager to ensure that safety remains the top priority as the European drone industry innovates new ways to use drones in exciting and productive ways. Introducing state-of-the-art safety features in even more countries will help the general public and drone operators alike,” the company adds. “European airspace management must accommodate advanced future operations, such as automated flight and flight beyond the operator’s line of sight, without imposing new burdens on recreational and professional drone pilots who have completed millions of safe and beneficial flights. Altitude Angel supports this vision and supplies the reliable airspace data needed to implement it.”
GEO 2.0 will be rolled out in Europe on February 2018 as part of an update to the DJI GO 4 flight control app and drone firmware.
Go DJI Improves Geofencing To Enhance Protection of European Airports and Facilities
