On the original subject of DRONES, it is worth noting that SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineering) has released a "glossary for terminology to be used for technology in self-controlled vehicles."

The "press release" gives little information about the content of this new document, and the price to purchase a copy (even with member discount) is out of reach for me; but an "autonomous vehicle" (automobile) is effectively a "drone," and it will soon be mixed into traffic where I drive.

While it appears that the FAA has authority to regulate the use of flying drones, via requirements for flight plans, control over flight paths and altitudes, and exclusion from "restricted airspaces, the NHTSA has no such authority to regulate where your "self-controlled auto" goes, or when, so potentially there is the prospect of "robot cars" flooding the highways, mixed in with "human driven" vehicles in which the operators are either busy with getting lost following their GPS, or occupied texting with their buddies about "what movie to download this evening." (or which bar offers the best prospects for "getting lucky" this weekend.)

It appears that many here are frightened by the prospect of aerial drones "watching them," but I find the prospect of wheeled drone "blackboxes" tracking every mile every person drives much more invasive, and traffic densities make multi-vehicle pileups when a transister lets its smoke get out is also somewhat scary.

It seems inevitable that we soon will have robot vehicles on the roads, and in my opinion this needs closer attention than flying cameras.

(My first assognment on a flying drone design, 40 years ago, was to relocate the ashtray, redisign the seat for a taller "pilot," and install a personnel oxygen system, so maybe I'm just more accustomed to what those things can - and can't - do. Little old ladies in robot autos does sort of scare me.)

John