Unmanned aircraft, or drones, have been in the news a lot recently. This past Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) ruled that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the authority to regulate drones, and can fine those who fly them recklessly.

DJI.InspireMeanwhile, a recent article in The Wall Street Journal profiled a Chinese company called SZ DJI Technology Co., which has created a new commercial drone armed with a high definition camera, among other bells and whistles. From the video footage I watched, what struck me was that the drone only weighs two pounds, and looks a lot like the R/C flyer toys that constantly make their way through The Toy Book offices.

According to the aforementioned NTSB ruling, drones are legally aircraft. So in the eyes of the federal government, they aren’t toys, despite the groundswell of drone hobbyists popping up in places like Chicago, and despite the fact that one can see a clear trail of evolution between these controversial machines and less notorious R/C toys.

Sky Viper_Camera Drone CopterPersonally, I’m of the opinion that drones are indeed toys. The latest models may be more technologically advanced than the average R/C vehicle, but that gulf is constantly shrinking. For example, the Sky Viper Camera Drone Quadcopter, from Skyrocket Toys, has been all the rage in our office recently. It seems more like an R/C toy than a drone proper; however, it does have the very drone-like feature of a camera, which lets it record video while up in the air.

The Sky Viper is controlled via a remote, as opposed to a tablet or smart device. However, it only seems like a matter of time before there’s an airborne R/C toy that lets one pilot it using those same means, as smart devices are being brought into contact with toys to a greater degree than ever. Currently, there are plenty of robots in which you can download an app, and subsequently control and manipulate the playthings in remarkable ways. As such, a flying toy that lets users see through their eyes—which happen to be equipped with a video camera—hardly seems like a stretch. (In fact, if you’ve already seen an example, please leave a link in the comments section.)

Governmental bodies in the U.S. and UK have been characterizing drones as serious machines on par with actual aircraft—as opposed to fancy toys that are as expensive as aircraft. The UK Civil Aviation Administration, meanwhile, has produced a new pamphlet outlining the legalities of drone use, which will be handed out at some retailers. I like the pamphlet, and not just because the first illustration jibes closely to my view of what the drone-owner relationship looks like (Clearly, the round-headed silhouette is taking his drone out for a flight, not getting ready to board it for a flight to Monte Carlo).

What I like is how it seems to accept that there’s no way to put the technological genie back into its bottle, and that people are going to be buying and flying drones, so here’s all the pertinent information in order to stay lawful. I also like how on an aesthetic level, the pamphlet is kind of dull-looking. It actually makes drone-flying seem boring and more hassle than it’s worth, which might do more to dissuade folks than all the fines the FAA can levy.

Speaking of how things are in the U.S., if a recent CBS News article is to be believed, the drone industry wants to be regulated, which makes sense. From reading coverage of the NTSB’s ruling, it sounds as if it’s still unclear whether a drone counts as an aircraft versus a model airplane, and thus, it remains uncertain exactly which governmental rules apply to it. Hopefully, that changes soon. The public wants its drones, and the devices–and any potential users–will probably be easier to regulate, not to mention sell to, once manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike all know what constitutes fair play.

For more commentary from Phil, check back often. Views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Toy Book as a whole. We hope that you will share your comments and feedback below. Until next time!

About the author

Phil Guie

Phil Guie

Phil Guie is an associate editor at Adventure Publishing Group. He writes and edits articles for The Toy Book and The Licensing Book. Phil also serves as lead editor for The Toy Book Blog and The Toy Report newsletter, and manages social media for The Toy Book. But of course, Phil’s pride and joy are his weekly reviews for The Toy Insider, in which he writes about video games, movies, and other cool things. His hobbies include comics, baking, fidgeting, and traveling to off-the-beaten places and making new friends.

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