Leading global drone manufacturer DJI is hitting the ground running in 2024 with a major update of its GEO geofencing application for users in the European Union and UK – part of its ongoing responses to changes the new year is bringing.
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“No geofence restrictions” has often been a selling point for Autel drones. But now, it looks like the drone manufacturer is upping the ante on airspace safety by introducing a compulsory No-Fly Zone database in the United States. This new geofencing feature comes with the latest firmware update (v2.7.25) for the EVO II drones.
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Ten days ago, we reported on the drone sighting that led to a temporary closure of Madrid’s Barajas Airport. The Spanish Civil Guard, however, has yet to find any proof of the ghost drone that was spotted by pilots and a falconer, according to Spanish newspaper El Independiente.
After first introducing Geofencing 2.0 in the U.S. last year, DJI continued to roll out their latest version of its Geospatial Environment Online (GEO) 2.0 system to 32 European countries two weeks ago. Now, DJI rolls out Geofencing 2.0 to airports across Asia-Pacific. If you’re not familiar with Geofencing, be sure to watch this video from Rick from Drone Valley in which DJI’s Brendan Schulman explains how it works.
In a statement, the Chinese drone maker says:
DJI rolls out Geofencing 2.0 to airports and other sensitive facilities in 32 European countries in an effort to prevent any future Gatwick-like drone fiasco’s. After the recent drone scares at Gatwick, Heathrow, and Newark, it comes as no surprise that DJI rolls out their Geofencing 2.0, officially called Geospatial Environment Online (GEO) 2.0 system, to Europe. The upgraded system was already deployed in the US since October 2018.
DJI recently released GEO 2.0., which is their updated and more accurate geo-fencing system that prevents DJI drones from flying near airports, airfields or other sensitive facilities. Instead of simply putting a circle around an area, DJI now makes the areas more precise and even includes 3D restrictions around approach and take-off areas. Meaning that if you’re further away from, and airport but in an approach zone, you may be able to fly your drone but only up to a certain elevation. Rick from Drone Valley took the opportunity at the DJI Osmo Pocket event to talk about DJI Geo 2.0, NFZ’s, Remote ID, DJI Global Response team and other related issues with Brendan Schulman (Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs). Geo-Fencing (GEO 2.0) explained and more. Check it out!
Last year during the U.S. launch of Aeroscope in Washington DC, Brendan Schulman, DJI’s VP of Policy and Legal Affairs, already announced that a new geofencing system was in the works. DJI GEO 2.0 more accurately geofences the areas around airports and airfields. A big difference versus the previous version of geofencing is that DJI GEO 2.0 takes into account the orientation of runways and the flightpaths. One look at the included image will explain you the difference right away.
Brendan Schulman, DJI’s Vice President of Policy & Legal Affairs, had announced during the launch of Aeroscope last year, that the company was working on a more precise and more 3D-like geofencing solution to fence off areas around airports, specifically taking into account the runways. Today, in an official announcement from the world’s largest drone maker, DJI explains that this new Geospatial Environment Online (GEO) Version 2.0 will be rolled out starting next month, first in the US. As we reported earlier, DJI also launched a global authorization team to speed up the unlocking process of geo-fenced areas for authorized professional drone pilots (for instance first responders and law enforcement officials). The unlocking should now take place within 30 minutes. The introduction of GEO 2.0 is a big step forward to keep our skies safe.
At today’s event, DJI introduced the new DJI Knowledge Quiz and the DJI Aeroscope Program. Both of these initiatives are great steps towards a safer shared (manned and unmanned aircrafts) airspace. We are especially impressed with Aeroscope, but why stop there?
What else could be done to further improve the safety of people on the ground as well as in the air? Well, DJI could upgrade their geofencing and introduce ADS-B Interactive. And they did.
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