FCC Moves to Retroactively Ban LiDAR-Equipped Drones, Sparking Regulatory Debate

The FCC announced a plan to retroactively revoke authorizations for what it calls “military-grade” drones, broadening the label to include consumer models with LiDAR obstacle avoidance such as DJI’s Air 3S, Avata 360, and Mini 5 Pro. If the policy remains after the Sept. 2 public-comment deadline, these drones could be removed from U.S. shelves, affecting photographers, filmmakers, first responders, farmers, and drone-delivery applications; the agency also flags other LiDAR- or thermal-equipped foreign drones and certain larger or docking-based devices. Public input via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System is encouraged.