Drone plane manufacturing industry is writing the legislation that governs their use in the US

[intaglio]

9. Ooooo scary "drones"

Now start to think. Any model remote control model aircraft or helicopter is a "drone"; any home built quad rotor is a drone and many of those are semi autonomous. "Drones" operating only semi legally have caught companies polluting and legal, law enforcement operated drones have caught rustlers.

At present there is little or no operational or flight control legislation governing the use of remote control or semi-autonomous aircraft beyond line of sight and there needs to be such legislation to avoid hazard to regular air traffic.

Think, a quad rotor with an iPhone on board could film police violence with little chance of the operator being arrested and his phone "accidentally" destroyed.

Think, logging companies could be watched by environmental groups with little chance of the watchers being beaten to a pulp by the company goons.

Think, secure compounds can be watched more effectively, delicate environments can be monitored with low impact.

Now stop indulging in knee-jerk scaremongering.