Helios Visions, a Chicago-based company, has become the first in the city to receive a federal waiver allowing its operators to fly drones over people. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the company plans to use the drones on construction sites, but the waiver could eventually allow drones to fly over large crowds at festivals, or even make deliveries.
To get the waiver, Parisot told the Chicago Sun Times that the company had to purchase additional hardware for its drone, including a parachute that could deploy in an emergency. It also had to get the drone certified to prove it met requirements, costing “thousands of dollars.
Helios generally takes on architecture and construction-based projects around Chicago. During one of the projects, the company used a drone to take high-resolution photos of the Cook County Hospital’s facade in a grid.
Source: Chicago Sun Times
