Ohio

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has gained approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly a large drone over a portion of the US 33 corridor northwest of Columbus. A 20-pound drone will now fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) to monitor traffic and assist with incident management.

In a world where clicks are king, stories about drones deployed to rescue kidnapped puppies are royal – as is the Ashland County Sheriff’s officer who piloted a Hallmark-card-meets-abduction-release operation in Ohio recently. 

Law enforcement officials in Ohio have compiled a sufficiently solid case against three suspects to secure their indictment for having flown drones to provide inmates in multiple prisons around the state with narcotics and other contraband items.

Step aside Blue Thunder, the law enforcement future belongs to UAVs. That, in any case, is what one Ohio police force has decided in swapping its helicopters for what its leader says are more affordable, effective, and quieter drones.

In response to complaints from a resident, the city of Hamilton, Ohio has passed a proposal to outlaw drone-based invasions of privacy. The legislation, approved last week, makes it illegal to use drones “to invade the privacy of another’s home, office, enclosed space, or the private space of another.”

It’s rare to catch a clear, simple glimpse of how increased drone use could benefit a society. Now a vivid example has surfaced: The state of Ohio is set to rake in over $13 billion by 2046 from advanced air mobility (AAM) services alone if it starts planning for that activity now.

Ohio-based CAL Analytics recently tested its regional detect and avoid system for drones flying in unmanned traffic management (UTM) environments. The two-day tests demonstrated the system’s ability to prevent collisions between drones and other aircraft in the sky.

Everything in our lives is becoming “smart.” From the office to the kitchen, even to the bathroom, we are surrounded by devices connected to the internet. Voice assistants listen to our every word, waiting for commands like “Hey Siri” or “Ok Google.” Now, with the help of drones, Ohio is looking to make roadways smarter with their distinctive vantage point.

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