Flying drones outdoors carries hidden risks—battery failure, exceeding range, and other issues can lead to crashes. Even with obstacle avoidance and safety systems, crashes are common. The U.S. FAA once forecast 300 daily drone crashes by 2020, causing huge losses.
When drones fully lose control, existing safety tech can fail. That’s where parachutes come in—taking inspiration from planes, they’re a last line of defense.
The FAA now eases rules for flying drones over crowds if robust safety measures are in place, including proven parachute recovery systems (still being finalized).
A drone parachute opens automatically when out of control, slowing landing speed to 3-6 m/s (even slower for light civilian models). This minimizes damage to the drone, public facilities, and pedestrians.