NIST Releases Standard to Guide Emergency Response Drone Practice

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published a new regulation to standardize the control of pilots on emergency response drones.

The Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Used for Public Safety Operations features 10 aerial test procedures that measure drone system functionality and pilot competency in performing basic maneuvers, NIST said Tuesday.

These maneuvers include landing, vertical climbing, straight flying and level flying.

“The test methods are low-cost and easy to fabricate and use, so they can be replicated by any group interested in evaluating its aircraft and remote pilots,” said Adam Jacoff, NIST robotics engineer.

Jacoff leads the development of standards guiding the use of robots on land, air and sea.

The full standard can be accessed at the National Fire Protection Association’s website.