We have heard many stories of how drones have flown into areas that they’re not supposed to, causing quite a bit of a security scare in the process. We suppose for the most part it is unintentional, an enthusiastic drone operator who maybe wandered a little too far into areas that they weren’t meant to go.
This is why regulatory bodies like the FAA have implemented a drone registration program, and which is why drone makers like DJI are introducing a geofencing system. The system was announced a couple of months ago back in November 2015, and the good news for those who want to take it for a spin, it has entered into public beta.
For those unfamiliar with the geofencing system, it basically warns users about places that they’re not supposed to go. For example in the event of an emergency like a fire, drone operators will be warned not to fly too close to the area as it might hinder rescue efforts from the authorities.
It will also prevent the drone from flying and landing in high security places like government buildings or prisons. However DJI is also introducing the ability to unlock these areas for verified DJI accounts, presumably for those who are filmmakers or who secured the rights to film in certain areas, but if you aren’t authorized, know that your drone can be traced back to you.
At the moment the public beta appears to be only available for Android and iOS users. Android users can download the APK from here, while iOS users will need to send an email to DJI and request for the beta app.