The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council has agreed to trial unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with a maximum flight speed of 100 km/h starting from November 24.
This decision was approved during a specialized meeting on November 14, as part of a resolution outlining the criteria, fields, and contents for supporting controlled trials of new technology solutions within the city’s high-tech and information technology zones. This policy will apply to technology solutions involving drones and autonomous vehicles.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City government, the resolution aims to create a testing environment to assess the risks and effectiveness of technological solutions. Additionally, legal issues surrounding new technology solutions will be addressed, thereby mitigating risks associated with the trials.
For unmanned aerial vehicles, Ho Chi Minh City has established basic criteria and technical specifications including: a wingspan and fuselage length of up to 1.57 meters, a maximum height of 71.5 cm, a maximum takeoff weight of 70 kg, a maximum flight speed of 100 km/h, and a maximum altitude of 200 meters. The flight range will be restricted to the testing area.
A drone spraying pesticides, developed by instructors and students at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology Education, October 2023. (Photo: Hà An).
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council also approved trials for autonomous vehicles with a maximum speed of 20 km/h, where remote-controlled vehicles must display travel information such as mode, time, battery voltage, satellite status, and movement speed.
The testing hours for these vehicles will be from 7 AM to 5 PM daily.
During the discussion on this policy, council members raised concerns regarding the funding sources for supporting the trials and the technical standards applicable to the vehicles under this policy.
Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, Bùi Tá Hoàng Vũ, suggested that the resolution should not specify technical parameters too rigidly, as this could complicate implementation. For instance, if a company wants to increase the wingspan to align with technological advancements, it would require amending the decree. Additionally, representatives expressed concerns about the limited testing hours, questioning how vehicles with nighttime flight capabilities would be tested.
Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council members passing the resolution during the meeting on November 14. (Photo: Lê Tuyết)
In response to these issues, Nguyễn Việt Dũng, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, explained that the technical conditions were based on references from unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous vehicles globally, incorporating feedback from numerous companies and experts in the field.
“The parameters provided are suitable for the pilot program. Innovation does not mean we can do anything; it must be controlled for risk,” Mr. Dũng stated.
Elaborating further, Phan Văn Mãi, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, noted that the controlled pilot program is a local initiative to address issues and request specific mechanisms and policies. Throughout this process, the local government has consulted with central agencies to take the lead in controlled trial implementation.
Moreover, according to the city’s leader, referencing the information from the XIV National Congress’s Economic-Social Subcommittee meeting, General Secretary Tô Lâm emphasized the importance of relying on science and technology as a foundation and driving force for innovative growth. Achieving this requires investment and a willingness to accept risks in science and technology.
Currently, regulations concerning unmanned aerial vehicles assign the licensing authority for design and testing facilities to the Operations Department after obtaining consent from the Chief of the General Staff of the Ministry of National Defense and completing the requisite procedures.
The Ho Chi Minh City government believes that innovative products, technologies, services, and business models are emerging rapidly. However, the lack of regulations has generated significant risks in commercializing innovative products. For example, Real-time Robotics (RtR) Company has faced numerous stages in testing its HERA drone.
If testing flights are conducted at altitudes below 100 meters and within a flight diameter of 200 meters, the company must obtain permission from the Operations Department to conduct tests at the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park. However, if they wish to fly at a height of 500 meters over a distance of 15 kilometers, they must seek permission from the Operations Department for tests in Long Hòa Commune, Cần Giờ District. The average cost for a 10-day test flight is approximately 150 million VND.
If testing technical flight parameters at SACRC Lou Haynie Memorial Field, Union City, California, USA, the average cost for 10 days of test flights is around 300 million VND.
As for autonomous vehicles, the 2008 Road Traffic Law currently does not permit smart vehicles connected to control systems or unmanned vehicles to conduct trials or participate in traffic. Consequently, companies lack space to test their research products.
Therefore, the passage of this resolution aims to encourage innovation activities and provide a foundation for evaluation and improvement before officially deploying products.
Previously, in Resolution 98, effective from August 1, 2023, it was stipulated that Ho Chi Minh City is allowed to conduct controlled trials of new technology solutions within the high-tech park, concentrated information technology zones, and innovation centers.
