The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched its first-ever effort to revoke a drone company’s equipment approvals after accusing it of falsely claiming its products were made in the United States to sidestep national security restrictions.
The company at the center of the case is Odyssey Robot, which independent security researcher Konrad Iturbe has alleged is a DJI-linked front company created to bypass the FCC’s ban on new authorizations for certain foreign-made drones. While the FCC does not identify Odyssey as a DJI front company in its order, it says Iturbe’s research prompted a formal investigation that uncovered evidence the company may have made false statements during the equipment authorization process.
If the allegations are upheld, the case would mark the FCC’s first revocation of drone equipment authorizations under its expanded national security rules.
The FCC says its Enforcement Bureau opened an investigation in June after reviewing research published by Iturbe on June 5. His investigation questioned Odyssey’s claims that it was an American drone manufacturer and suggested the company was attempting to circumvent restrictions placed on foreign-made drones.
