Drone Technology and Regulations in India
Drones Technology
A drone, in technological terms, is an unmanned aircraft. Drones are more formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned aircraft systems (UASes). Essentially, a drone is a flying robot that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously through software-controlled flight plans in their embedded systems, working in conjunction with onboard sensors and GPS.
Technology, features and components
Drones contain a large number of technological components, including:
- Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC), an electronic circuit that controls a motor’s speed and direction.
- Flight controller
- GPS module
- Battery
- Antenna
- Receiver
- Cameras
- Sensors, including ultrasonic sensors and collision avoidance sensors
- Accelerometer, which measures speed
- Altimeter, which measures altitude
Types of drones
Drone platforms have two main types: rotor, including single-rotor or multi-rotor (such as tricopters, quadcopters, hexacopters and octocoptors), or fixed-wing, which include the hybrid VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) drones that don’t require runways.
General Rules for Flying a Drone in India
Important rules to know for flying a drone in India.
- All drones except those in the Nano category must be registered and issued a Unique Identification Number (UIN).
- A permit is required for commercial drone operations (except for those in the Nano category flown below 50 feet and those in the Micro category flown below 200 feet).
- Drone pilots must maintain a direct visual line of sight at all times while flying.
- Drones cannot be flown more than 400 feet vertically.
- Drones cannot be flown in areas specified as “No Fly Zones”, which include areas near airports, international borders, Vijay Chowk in Delhi, State Secretariat Complex in State Capitals, strategic locations, and military installations.
- Permission to fly in controlled airspace can be obtained by filing a flight plan and obtaining a unique Air Defense Clearance (ADC)/Flight Information Center (FIC) number.
Drone Categories in India
Registration is required for all but the Nano category.
- Nano: Less than or equal to 250 grams (.55 pounds)
- Micro: From 250 grams (.55 pounds) to 2kg (4.4 pounds)
- Small: From 2kg (4.4 pounds) to 25kg (55 pounds)
- Medium: From 25kg (55 pounds) to 150kg (330 pounds)
- Large: Greater than 150kg (33 pounds)
Required Drone Equipment in India
Also worth noting is that India has specific requirements regarding the types of features a drone must have to be flown in India (excluding those in the Nano category). These mandatory requirements include:
- GPS
- Return-to-home (RTH)
- Anti-collision light
- ID plate
- A flight controller with flight data logging capability
- RF ID and SIM/No Permission No Takeoff (NPNT)
India’s No Permission, No Takeoff Policy
Before every single flight, drone pilots are required to request permission to fly via a mobile app, which will automatically process the request and grant or reject it. India is calling their system “No Permission, No Takeoff” (NPNT). If a drone pilot tries to fly without receiving permission from the Digital Sky Platform, he or she will simply not be able to takeoff.
Foreigners are currently not allowed to fly drones in India. For commercial purpose, they need to lease the drone to an Indian entity who in-turn will obtain Unique Identification Number (UIN) and UAOP from DGCA.
Important Uses of Drones
- Aerial photography for journalism and film
- Express shipping and Delivery
- Disaster Management- gathering information and supplying essentials
- Thermal Sensor drones for search and rescue operations
- Geographic Mapping
- Crop Monitoring and Other Agriculture applications
- Cargo transport
- Law enforcement and border surveillance
- Storm tracking and forecasting hurricanes,cyclones and tornadoes
- Military use Etc.
