Dovepass: San Francisco Drone Flight Legality Research Prototype

Dovepass is a specialized research tool designed to answer a critical question for drone operators: "Can I legally fly a drone along this specific path in San Francisco?"

The system is tailored for pilots operating under Part 107 (licensed) regulations, providing a comprehensive analysis of a proposed flight route.

---

🛠️ How the Flight Check Works

The user interface allows pilots to define their mission parameters to receive a definitive "Go" or "No-go" answer.

The Workflow

User Inputs & Controls

• Route Definition: Set a takeoff point and a destination.
• Drone Selection: Choose a pre-configured drone or add a custom one.
• Temporal Data: Select "Now" or a specific future time (SF local time).
• Flight Parameters:
  • Payload (kg)
  • Battery Reserve (%)
  • Round Trip toggle
  • Cruise Height (Defaulted based on weight class: 800, 1,200, or 1,600 ft).

---

🔍 Analysis & Compliance

Dovepass evaluates the route against a massive dataset of restrictions.

Coverage Matrix

[!IMPORTANT] Port of SF Property: The system notes if a flight start or end point is on known Port property, but it does not perform a full legality check for these specific areas.

Critical Safety Warnings

• Visual Line of Sight (VLOS): The system warns if a route exceeds the pilot's natural sight.
  • Note: Binoculars, FPV goggles, and cameras $\text{do not}$ count as unaided sight. An FAA waiver is required for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight).
• Vision Research: Heights are suggested based on research; for example, beyond $\approx 300\text{ ft}$, it becomes difficult to reliably see if people are beneath the aircraft.

---

🔋 Technical Specifications & Drone Configuration

For experts, Dovepass provides detailed height charts (above sea level), airspace codes, and timestamps. Users can add custom drones by providing the following data:

1. Basic Identification

• Name: Identifier for reports and links.
• Airframe Type:
  • Multirotor (Payload on battery)
  • Fixed-wing (Payload on lift)
  • VTOL hybrid (Combination)
• Weight: Takeoff weight vs. Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW). Must stay under the 55 lb Part 107 limit.

2. Energy & Endurance

The system calculates the energy budget using the following logic: $\text{Watt-hours (Wh)} = \text{Volts (V)} \times \text{Amp-hours (Ah)}$

• Max Flight Time: Derated for real-world conditions.
• Hover Time: The ceiling for holding position in zero wind.
• Reference Speed: The speed at which the manufacturer's flight time was measured.

3. Performance Limits

• Cruise Speed: The baseline speed for all route legs.
• Max Horizontal Speed: The limit for maintaining track against wind.
• Max Wind Resistance: If forecast wind exceeds this, the route is marked as a failure.
• Max Payload: Determines if the drone can carry the specified weight.

4. Compliance & Environment

• Temperature Range: Min/Max operating temps (outside this, battery data is unreliable).
• Remote ID:
  • None $\rightarrow$ NO-GO (Required for all Part 107 drones).
  • Built-in / Add-on module.

5. Advanced Metrics (Optional)

• Stall speed (Fixed-wing)
• Min turn radius
• Transition time (VTOL)
• Measured average power (W)

---

📋 Final Output & Deliverables

Depending on the result, Dovepass provides different outputs:

If the flight is a "GO":

• Clear Answer: Confirmation of legality.
• Action Plan: Specific steps the pilot must take.
• Drone App Files: Exportable files for DJI or other apps.
• Printable Flight Card: A physical reference for the pilot.
• Map File: A digital export of the route.
• Pre-flight Checklist: A list of manual checks the pilot must confirm (as the software cannot verify physical hardware/site conditions).

If the flight is a "NO-GO" or "COULDN'T PLAN":

• No-go: The route is illegal or unsafe at the chosen time.
• Couldn't Plan: The system was unable to calculate a viable path.
• Couldn't Check: Data loading failure; a retry is suggested.
• Note: App files and flight cards are not available for failed flights.