If anything puts an advanced drone to rest faster, it is taking away its software. This makes the most recent FCC action not just an issue of a policy battle but a significant win for US operators relying on these drones for various tasks and missions. In granting a rather silent waiver, the FCC effectively extended DJI and Autel drone models currently available on US markets’ eligibility for further receiving firmware and software updates until January 1, 2029. This protects inspection and mapping professionals, emergency responders, and drone media operators using these drone brands from the consequences of being forced into flying their aircraft in outdated and potentially insecure conditions.
This nuance is subtle, as both DJI and Autel remain part of the Covered List regime. As per the new waiver, there are no prospects of opening the market for further authorizations of drones for DJI and Autel or changing the procurement policies on Blue UAS. However, the waiver allows these already-approved models of aircraft to continue working properly by updating firmware and software.
It might be surprising to learn about the complexity of software updates for drones. These are not mere static flying cameras but sophisticated software-controlled machines equipped with radios, battery systems, navigation software, mobile applications, cloud computing services, and remote controllers. Updates serve the purpose of making the software reliable by removing bugs, keeping compatible operating systems and software patches in place, ensuring proper operation of radios, improving batteries, and closing possible security flaws. According to the FCC’s waiver description, firmware updates are necessary to mitigate harm to US consumers and ensure continued functionality.
In terms of the US market, the significance of the decision becomes more apparent after looking at the list of already authorized models. These comprise such current as Mavic 4 Pro, Air 3S, and Matrice 400, as well as some of the older versions of Mavic and Inspire series, and Autel aircraft as well. No outright bans and remote disabling orders apply to these models, leaving only uncertainty related to future availability of updates.
This could turn out to be a cybersecurity challenge. Outdated firmware poses a danger when applied to any kind of equipment, whether it is a router or an aircraft. Enterprise drones operate within much larger systems that comprise drone fleet management solutions, connections to LTE or 5G, cloud services for reports, and mission history storage services. Keeping the drone’s firmware and software updated is essential for the protection of the system as a whole and preventing vulnerabilities of airborne computer systems.
There is also a business perspective here. While US drone alternatives become increasingly popular and more models are authorized by the government as Blue and Green UASs, the ecosystem cannot yet be compared to the one developed by DJI. Many businesses simply cannot afford changing the fleet entirely. It is one thing to switch to another model of aircraft, but it is quite another to train pilots, change maintenance processes, test payload systems, and rewrite the software workflow.
Autel offers its customers firmware and software update capabilities for its EVO Max drones through multiple channels, including SD card updates and USB updates for both aircraft and controllers. The update process is straightforward until it becomes interrupted by the authorities. To sum up, there is now no doubt about what DJI and Autel US operators need to do with their aircraft: enjoy them to full potential until 2029 by keeping them updated.