Will Drones Be Used on Construction Sites?
The feds are opening up the playing field for automated drones – that don’t have human pilots guiding them – on job sites, and it raises safety questions related to construction workers (and others) on the ground for construction companies. Prior to this federal approval, it was difficult for commercial drones to live up to their full value due to the cost of having the airspace and drone activity constantly monitored by a pilot. If you’ve been injured on the job – regardless of the kind of injury – it’s time to consult with an experienced Brooklyn construction accident attorney.
The FAA Weighs In
According to ConstructionDive, the FAA seems to be casting a vote in favor of unmanned drones. Just days before granting approval for the automated drones, it shared its plan to issue almost $6 million in research, education, and training grants in this arena. The money will be allotted to universities that are part of the agency’s Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems to help them finance-related projects.
The Idea behind Automated Drones
The company that produces the FAA’s recently approved drones without pilots is American Robotics’ Scout System. These automated drones incorporate acoustically driven detect-and-avoid technology that is intended to keep the drones a safe distance from other aircraft. As such, these drones are able to operate safely outside the operator’s line of sight.
The Construction Industry
As far as the construction industry is concerned, these unmanned drones could serve a variety of important purposes, including:
- Gathering and compiling data related to building information
- Monitoring the progress of jobs
- Checking for potential safety hazards on the job
- Helping to make jobs that cover a large physical space more manageable (such as work being done on long stretches of highway)
The upside of unmanned drones could be considerable, but exactly how safe the practice is for those on the ground below remains to be seen.
Safety for Workers and Others on the Ground
Questions about the safety of construction workers and others who are below these unmanned drones remain a concern. Last year, the FAA provided a few general contractors with waivers that allow them to fly their pilotless drones above active construction sites, although some of those with waivers are holding off on the practice. There are safe-air scalable systems available that may help allay the safety concerns of construction companies as they relate to pilot-free drones.
You Need an Experienced Brooklyn Construction Accident Attorney in Your Corner
Construction work is some of the most dangerous work you can take on, and the idea of having pilotless drones hovering above you may not inspire increased confidence in your safety. If you’ve been injured in an accident of any kind on the job, the trusted construction accident attorneys at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman in Brooklyn have the drive, experience, and legal insight to help skillfully guide your claim towards its most beneficial resolution. To learn more about what we can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 917-268-2985 today.
