Ho Chi Minh City will test 100km/h unmanned flying vehicle

Ho Chi Minh City People's Council agreed to test drones with a maximum flight speed of 100km/h from November 24.

The content was approved at the thematic session on the morning of November 14 in the Resolution stipulating criteria, fields, and content to support controlled testing of new technology solutions in high-tech and information technology zones concentrated in the area. This policy will apply to technology solutions related to unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous vehicles.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City government, the Resolution helps create a testing environment to assess the risks and effectiveness of technological solutions. At the same time, legal issues for new technological solutions will be resolved, limiting risks in testing.

Accordingly, for unmanned aerial vehicles, Ho Chi Minh City has set out the basic criteria and technical specifications including : Wingspan, maximum body length of 1.57m and maximum height of 71.5cm. Maximum take-off weight of 70kg. Maximum flight speed of 100km/h. Maximum flight altitude of no more than 200m. Flight range in the testing area.

Pesticide spraying drone made by lecturers and students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education, October 2023. (Photo: Ha An).

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Council also agreed that for self-driving vehicles participating in the test, the maximum speed is 20 km/h, and the vehicle's remote control needs to display travel information such as mode, time, battery voltage, satellite, and speed.

The testing time for these vehicles is 7am to 5pm daily.

During the policy discussion, delegates of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council raised the issue of funding sources to support testing and technical standards for vehicles subject to the policy.

Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Bui Ta Hoang Vu expressed his opinion that the resolution should not specify too detailed technical parameters, which would be difficult to implement and apply. For example, if a business wants to increase the wingspan length to match the technology, the decree must be amended. In addition, delegates also wondered about the testing time if testing is only allowed until 5 p.m., how will vehicles with night flight capabilities be tested?

Ho Chi Minh City People's Council delegates passed the Resolution at the morning session on November 14. (Photo: Le Tuyet)

Explaining the above issue, Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the technical conditions were given based on references to unmanned aerial vehicles and self-driving cars in the world, and consulting many businesses and experts in the field.

"The parameters are suitable for the pilot. Creativity does not mean we allow anything to be done, but we must control the risks," said Mr. Dung.

Clarifying this content, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that the controlled pilot is the content that the locality sees the problem and asks for special mechanisms and policies. During this process, the locality has discussed and asked for opinions from central agencies to pioneer the controlled pilot issue.

In addition, according to the head of the city government, citing information from the meeting of the Economic and Social Subcommittee of the 14th National Party Congress, General Secretary To Lam emphasized the spirit of taking science and technology as the foundation and driving force for innovation and growth. To do so, it is necessary to invest and accept risks in science and technology.

According to current regulations on unmanned aerial vehicles, the authority to grant licenses to design and testing facilities is the responsibility of the Operations Department after receiving the consent of the Chief of the General Staff - Ministry of National Defense and carrying out procedures according to regulations.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, innovative products, technologies, services, and business models are being created rapidly. However, the lack of regulations creates many risks in the commercialization of innovative products. For example, Real-time Robotics Joint Stock Company (RtR) tested the HERA drone, which had to go through many stages.

If the test flight is at an altitude of 100m or less, with a flight diameter of less than 200m, the company must apply for a license from the Operations Department to conduct a test flight at the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park. However, if the flight is at an altitude of 500m, with a flight distance of 15km, the company must apply for a license from the Operations Department to conduct a test flight at Long Hoa Commune, Can Gio District. The total average cost for a test flight within 10 days is about 150 million VND.

If testing flight specifications at SACRC Lou Haynie Memorial Field, Union City, California, USA, the total average cost for 10 days of flight testing is about 300 million VND.

With self-driving cars, the 2008 Road Traffic Law does not have regulations allowing smart vehicles connected to control systems, unmanned vehicles. to be tested and participate in traffic. Therefore, businesses lack space to test research products.

Therefore, the passing of this Resolution aims to encourage innovation and creativity and serve as a basis for evaluation and improvement before officially putting the product into application.

Previously, Resolution 98, effective from August 1, 2023, stipulated that Ho Chi Minh City is allowed to test controlled new technology solutions within the scope of high-tech parks, concentrated information technology parks, and innovation centers.