Sydney’s new shark surveillance drones are facing growing scrutiny after a terrifying close call at Curl Curl Beach, but an expert has said the technology is being burdened by unrealistic expectations. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Drone surveillance questioned after close shark encounterSign up to The Nightly's newsletters. The chance encounter at Curl Curl has raised concerns about the system but University of Sydney Associate Professor Chris Pepin-Neff said Australians need to reset their expectations. “They’re scared that if there’s a drone in the air and there’s a shark bite that they’re going to get blamed,” they said. Despite the challenges, Pepin-Neff said shark surveillance technology would continue to improve, with AI-powered unmanned drones expected to play a major role in the future.