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US Drone Firm Accused of Lying to FCC
21 Jul
Summary
- Odyssey Robot allegedly passed off a DJI drone as US-made.
- FCC aims to revoke equipment authorization due to national security concerns.
- A security researcher's findings prompted the FCC investigation.
A US vendor, Odyssey Robot, faces a national security enforcement action from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for allegedly misrepresenting a DJI drone as a US-made product. The FCC is moving to revoke the equipment authorization granted to Odyssey in April. This decision was prompted by a Spain-based security researcher who found evidence suggesting Odyssey's drone specifications align with a DJI product, which is restricted under the FCC's foreign-made drone ban.
Odyssey, incorporated in Delaware and operating in California, apparently lacks a corporate website. During its equipment authorization application, Odyssey claimed its drone's remote control was manufactured in California and assembled in Texas. However, the FCC noted that the company's own test report indicated testing occurred in Shenzhen, China. Furthermore, the radio frequency fingerprint of Odyssey's product was found to be identical to the VooMax Breeze drone.
Following the researcher's report, the FCC requested more information from Odyssey, to which the company failed to respond. Odyssey also denies any business relationship with e-Tak Worldwide Corporation, the firm that claimed to have assembled the drone. The FCC has given Odyssey 10 days to respond before proceeding with the revocation. Additionally, the FCC is preparing to ban DJI-linked front companies, including Fikaxo, Cogito Tech, and Skyhigh Tech.
