Come September 16, 2023, compliance with the FAA’s final rule on Remote ID will become mandatory for most drones operating in US airspace. Many popular DJI drones have Remote ID capabilities built-in, but some older models need an add-on module to broadcast their identification and location information.
Update (September 13, 2023): The FAA has extended the Remote ID enforcement deadline by six months to March 16, 2024.
The FAA likens Remote ID to a “digital license plate” for a drone. It helps the FAA, law enforcement, and other federal agencies to access information about drones in flight, such as the identity, location, and altitude of the aircraft and its control station or take-off location. This information becomes important when a drone appears to be flying in an unsafe manner or is flying where it is not allowed to be.
DJI has already rolled out firmware updates for its current flagship drone models to make them compliant with Remote ID standards. Legacy drones, however, will need a Remote ID broadcast module to transmit the required radio signals. Here are four commercial drones that DJI has confirmed will necessitate the purchase of such a Remote ID broadcast module…
1. Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual
This portable drone equipped with powerful, side-by-side visual and thermal cameras was released in 2018 to provide commercial pilots with a reliable tool in challenging industrial environments. It was developed in partnership with FLIR Systems utilizing the compact design of DJI’s Mavic 2 Series drones.
2. Mavic 2 Enterprise Zoom
Another 2018 release, the Zoom edition of Mavic 2 Enterprise, was introduced with a 2x optical and 3x digital zoom capability to improve the ability of drones to identify and inspect dangerous or difficult areas, as well as to help emergency services protect life and property.
3. Matrice 200 series
The M200 drone came out in 2017, featuring DJI’s first upward-facing gimbal mount, which opened up the undersides of bridges, towers, and other structures for inspection. The rugged drone was equipped with a host of safety features and a forward-facing first-person view camera that allowed a pilot and a camera operator to monitor separate images on dual remote controllers.
4. Matrice 600 Pro
The M600 Pro was DJI’s most advanced platform for aerial cinematographers and commercial users when it was launched in 2016. The drone offered triple redundancy and diagnostic algorithms that compared sensor data from three sets of GNSS units and improved precision control considerably.
It’s worth a mention that while DJI is not selling a Remote ID broadcast module, there are several third-party options available, including those from Czech startup Dronetag and Switzerland-based INVOLI. Meanwhile, the Cube ID Serial add-on module from CubePilot is priced at only $39, making it the cheapest FCC-certified Remote ID broadcast solution for FAA built-in compliance.
Read: This free app tracks nearby drone flights using Remote ID data
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