Off-the-shelf consumer drones aren't of much use as weapons - but they can be powerful reconnaissance tools.
Sushko fled his home late last week after his family had to take cover from a nearby explosion. He spoke to The Associated Press by phone and text message Friday after climbing up a tree for better reception.
But there's a downside: DJI, the leading provider of consumer drones in Ukraine and around the world, provides a tool that can easily pinpoint the location of an inexperienced drone operator, and no one really knows what the Chinese firm or its customers might do with that data. That makes some volunteers uneasy. DJI declined to discuss specifics about how it has responded to the war.
In the meantime, Ukrainian drone experts said they've been doing whatever they can to teach operators how to protect their whereabouts. Ukraine has a thriving community of drone experts, some of whom were educated at the National Aviation University or the nearby Kyiv Polytechnic University and went on to found local drone and robotics startups.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
From weddings to reconnaissance: How Ukrainian drone enthusiasts are helping repel Russian invasionUkrainian drone enthusiasts are risking their lives by forming a volunteer drone force to help their country repel the Russian invasion.
Read more »
Here's How You Can Help Ukrainian RefugeesUkrainian people are seeking refuge amid Russian invasions, here's how Chicagoans can help.
Read more »
Ukrainian drone enthusiasts sign up to repel Russian forcesIn better times, Ukrainian drone enthusiasts flew their gadgets into the sky to photograph weddings, fertilize soybean fields or race other drones for fun.
Read more »
Through a mountain pass, Poles frantically rebuild a rail link to Ukraine to help refugeesPoland has welcomed its Ukrainian neighbors fleeing over the mountains from the Russian invasion.
Read more »