One of the more popular selling points for most drones is that should something sever the communications link between the aircraft and the pilot or ground command, the machine knows the way home and normally returns automatically … except of course when it doesn’t, as the U.S. Army experienced in late January.
What Happens When a Drone Loses Its Way?
Key Takeaways:
- A U.S. Army Shadow RQ-7Bv2 drone failed to execute its automatic return-to-base protocol after losing communication shortly after takeoff.
- Instead of returning, the drone embarked on an uncontrolled flight, traveling hundreds of miles through Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado for over five hours.
- The 440-pound aircraft remained missing for 10 days before a camper discovered it crashed in a tree, 632 miles from its origin.
- Neither the U.S. Army nor the drone's manufacturer, Textron, have provided any comments on the incident.
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