This Article is written by Simran Shadija of Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad
The civilian market for unmanned drones or aerial vehicles is booming as new utilization emerge to integrate them in day to day lives. The ease of using drones to provide some services is appealing. However, the straightforward operation of these airborne robots, which rely mostly on their cyber skills, poses substantial threats to humans and property. Furthermore, while the FAA's NextGen project promises to integrate civilian drones into the national airspace, legislation is still being drafted and does not address their concerns. In the near past, only trained certified pilots were permitted authorization to fly aeroplane. In today's unrestricted skies, anyone can operate a flying machine. Sharing controlled airspace with manned aircraft and drones, on the other hand, is a huge difficulty. According to FAA projections, more than one million unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) would be sold in 2015. Indeed, such estimates raise concerns among security professionals about cyber-attacks on civilian drones. With the FAA requiring mandatory drone registration, which holds drone operators accountable, most of the illegal drone use will be performed through hostile acquisition, which can be accomplished by exploiting their cyber vulnerabilities.
WHAT ARE THE APPLICATIONS OF CIVILIAN DRONES? THE RIGHT, THE WRONG, AND THE UGLY.
Civilian UAVs can be utilised in a variety of applications once they have been regulated and cleared for national airspace. Most of these applications are helpful, and they tend to overcome problems provided by their reliance on a range of factors such as human availability, as well as geographic, spatial, and temporal limits.
Drones can be tailored to do specific activities in the construction, mining, and agriculture industries. Drones can be used to fertilise and irrigate crops, for instance, in agriculture. Several cases have been reported where drones were used to smuggle contraband drugs across the U.S-Mexico border. Also, on several occasions, drones have been used to smuggle phones, drugs, and cameras into prison facilities in the U.S. Although there have been no reports of drones being used in civilian assassinations, the principle is used in military missions and can thus be adapted for use in civilian skies. While obtaining civilian drones with assault capabilities may be difficult, they might be deployed in a kamikaze fashion for targeted assassinations. The Israeli K1 suicide UAV, developed by the Yavne based Aeronautics Defence Systems company, has demonstrated this. Drones can be used to convey medicine and emergency response equipment to patients in areas that are difficult to reach or take a long time. Aside from the DHL medical parcelcopter trial in Germany, Delft Technical University has presented an ambulance drone concept in which a cardiac arrest call is answered with an automated external defibrillator. UAVs have been used in disaster response and evaluation since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Drones were used to study the disaster's aftermath and check on the condition of survivors in cut-off areas and routes blocked by fallen trees.
WHAT ARE THE LAWS ON DRONES IN INDIA?
Flying a drone is permitted in India. The Ministry of Civil Aviation of India is the country's national aviation body however, recommends being informed of and compliance with the drone rules stated below before doing so. Drones are now prohibited in India for foreigners. They must lease the drone to an Indian firm for commercial purposes, which will get a Unique Identification Number (UIN) and UAOP from the DGCA.
Ø All drones, except those in the Nano category must be registered and issued a Unique Identification Number.
Ø The operation of commercial drones require a permit.
Ø Drone pilots must always maintain a direct line of sight when flying.
Ø Drones are not permitted to fly higher than 400 feet.
Ø Drones are prohibited from flying near airports, international borders, Vijay Chowk in Delhi, State Secretariat Complex in State Capitals, critical locations, and military installations, among other places.
Drone technology provides humans with several advantages and benefits. It is useful in everyday tasks, as well as military operations and weather monitoring. However, their benefits are accompanied by several privacy and security risks. Breach of security and privacy must be properly addressed. Drone recording and picture capture must be done with the privacy and confidentiality of people's concerns in mind. Several studies exist for the sanctuary and risk examination of drones, in which the risk linked with it is evaluated and debated. Above message-passing networks, it is critical to ensure confidentiality, dependability, obtainability, verification, and non-denial possessions. AAA methods and progressions can help you attain these.
Authorization is gained by granting access to the drone/control UAVs unit; verification is obtained by multi-level authentication identity verification, and biometric verification.
Drones pose security risks, which might include both physical and cyber-attacks. Drones should not be used in civilian areas or on private property. Drones are being used in more harmful ways. Citizens and civilians face challenges because of this use Drone owners in some areas operate their drones via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi channels. This may result in monetary loss. Drones are used to break into Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks. People are concerned about their privacy and security because of this intrusion. There are also suggestions for how to avoid these dangers.
The following is a list of current and upcoming safety concerns:-
Ø Drones are small, lightweight, and have excellent manoeuvrability. It can be used to monitor illicit operations that are carried out in a highly private manner.
Ø Criminals might also use it to carry out their unlawful activities. Drones can be fitted with harmful objects and used to commit crimes. Civilians may be harmed because of such conduct. It is a matter of worry to put an end to such radical activities for the sake of people's well-being.
Ø Several terrorist groups can use armed items in conjunction with drones to carry out illegal operations. Security does not always provide protection.
There is a risk that civilians will cause harm to civilian areas, resulting in financial loss. The following is a detailed summary of the safety risks-:
Ø The use of minimum safety elements in architecture can lead to drone control. This might lead to property damage and loss.
Ø Smashing avoidance tactics, which can result in a drone's inability to identify airliners, are among the minimum mechanical and operational ethics.
Ø Lack of administrative knowledge: When people are inexperienced with safety features, this is the most typical problem.
THE CONFIDENTIALITY APPREHENSIONS
People's privacy is a major element to consider. Drones must not be allowed in private areas. It is vital to determine the amount of privacy of the people involved before capturing or entering a private legacy.
The following sections discuss three types of privacy threats-:
Ø Drones flying over someone's property is considered a major concern due to the risks involved. Scammers can utilise this information for malicious purposes.
Ø It is against the law to follow someone's whereabouts without their consent.
DOES INDIA HAVE AN ANTI-DRONE SYSTEM?
The anti-drone technology was first utilized to provide security during the Republic Day Parade this year, and then during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address to the country from the Red Fort's fortifications. The 360-degree coverage equipment was also used in Ahmedabad during the Modi Trump tour. To combat fast-emerging airborne threats, the DRDO-developed anti-drone technology system gives the Indian Armed Forces both 'soft kill' and 'hard kill' choices. The Air Force needs ten anti-drone systems with laser-directed energy weapons to shoot down rogue drones in the future. A day after the attack on the Jammu air force station, when unmanned aerial vehicles were used to drop bombs, a request for information was issued.
CAN DRONES BE USED FOR SECURITY?
Drones can help with security in a variety of ways. They're utilised to keep an eye on perimeters and conduct continuous monitoring across big areas. Drones can also be utilised as a reaction mechanism before employees arrive to conduct an initial site assessment so that everyone knows what they're getting into. People will need time to adjust to what drones can do, but once the rules are relaxed, a whole new world in the security industry will open up. Drones are getting smaller, and their battery and fuel sources are getting better. Improved camera systems and smaller footprints are becoming more frequent in drones. People buy drones for a variety of reasons, including the amount of time they can fly and the payload they can carry, but the best drone you have is the one you have with you.
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