Around the Commercial Drone Industry
Date: February 11, 2025
This week’s roundup of news highlights several impactful initiatives in the drone sector, including stringent security measures at this year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, Chick-fil-A leveraging drones for operational efficiency, and innovative drone applications aimed at wildlife management.
NOLA: A No-Drone Zone for Super Bowl LIX
Details from NewsNation reveal that comprehensive security protocols were enacted for this year’s Super Bowl held in New Orleans. Notable among these was a ban on drone flights over downtown areas and the Superdome during the lead-up to the event. The FAA extended flight restrictions up to 18,000 feet as part of an extensive initiative to ensure the safety of both residents and fans attending the game, especially following a recent terror attack in the vicinity. The presence of President Trump also necessitated these heightened measures.
Chick-fil-A Turns to UAVs
Leading fast-food chain Chick-fil-A is exploring the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance its ordering and delivery processes. According to Franchise Wire, a franchise in Illinois is utilizing drone-captured video along with security camera footage to assess service capabilities during peak times. By analyzing aerial perspectives combined with kitchen and service window footage, staff can optimize operations and minimize delays.
Hazing Wolves with Drones
A recent initiative discussed in our previous round-up aimed at bear population management is now being extended to wolves in Oregon. The Wildlife Society reports that wildlife officials are deploying drones to haze wolves that pose threats to cattle herds. The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in collaboration with the Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center, documented the success of their 2022 pilot project where drones were used to identify and deter rogue wolves, significantly reducing predation rates from almost one incident per two nights to just two incidents over an 85-day monitoring period.
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