Drone question
- Thread starter Meriachee
- Start date
I'd like it almost as much as I like 5200!!!
May be fun for the operator, but would sure be an annoyance to me.
I'd either invest in anti-drone capabilities or get one myself to remove the intrusion.
May be fun for the operator, but would sure be an annoyance to me.
I'd either invest in anti-drone capabilities or get one myself to remove the intrusion.
During daylight and more than 100 feet or so from me (so I don't hear the whizzing) and I am OK.. In a marina I see a use for them in inspecting mast heads furling swivels, etc.. Other than that, I think "SKEET PRACTICE!" when I see one misbehaving/annoying people. Same basic thing with jet skis.. a sensible owner will operate it with consideration and mostly keep to the rules.. the problem is that there aren't very many sensible operators.
I love the it.
I never get enough target practice on flying things when sailing. There is absolutely nothing in any law book (yet) that prohibits using drones for target practice. Most of the anchorages we anchor in are well outside the city limits, so there is no prohibition on fire arms either.
"Bang bang, I shot one down. Bang bang......"
Bring 'em on.
I never get enough target practice on flying things when sailing. There is absolutely nothing in any law book (yet) that prohibits using drones for target practice. Most of the anchorages we anchor in are well outside the city limits, so there is no prohibition on fire arms either.
"Bang bang, I shot one down. Bang bang......"
Bring 'em on.
If using a flare gun, though, be mindfull of whatever else might be downrange.
I'm sure they are a great way to ask around the anchorage if anyone has any Grey Poupon.
I like the use of the new technology for practical things like mast inspections and of course they are awesome for video and photography. I can understand some boaters concern for hazardous falling objects that could injure someone or damage a vessel, as well as general annoyance.
To set your mind at ease (if you are worried about the falling object part), most of the drones have pretty advanced onboard computers (gps and gyro combo) that control flight and crash avoidance. They can automatically return to 'home' when they lose connectivity to the transmitter, fly home and land when 'bingo' on fuel (battery life), elevation or 'ceiling' can be set, etc etc. Most of the more advanced drones are flown by laptop with maps and waypoints, joysticks as a back up only. There are a number of ins and outs, system configurations, and you'll still get 'pilot error'... I guess it boils down to knowing that what is in the air is actually a computer controlled flight capable 'drone' or is it a toy controlled by an amateur with a joystick transmitter. If its the latter, yes I'd be a little concerned of the falling object hazard.
As far as being annoying, I can't help anyone with that... I think the benefit out weighs the minor noise pollution.
How do I know this? I had a pretty nice drone about 3 years ago. I lost it because I was stupid, I was flying on manual without the Nav module installed. After enjoying numerous flights at no more than 20 ft high and 50 ft away from me I go a little too brave and went about 70 feet and starting catching heavier cross winds. Eventually I got disoriented and lost my point of reference (the drones are totally symmetrical). Long story short, I couldn't get my bearings and the drone drifted farther away until I lost transmitter connection and the drone just flew off into the sunset. That was a $800 carbon fiber drone lost somewhere on a mountain side. That is exactly the scenario where the 'go home' feature of the flight computer would have saved my biscuits.
For the purposes of this discussion, since I am pointing the finger squarely at myself as an example, at least in my situation I was flying in the middle of nowhere (AZ desert), with no one or nothing to harm. I did go looking for the airframe on my dirt bike, I never found it... brutal terrain.
To set your mind at ease (if you are worried about the falling object part), most of the drones have pretty advanced onboard computers (gps and gyro combo) that control flight and crash avoidance. They can automatically return to 'home' when they lose connectivity to the transmitter, fly home and land when 'bingo' on fuel (battery life), elevation or 'ceiling' can be set, etc etc. Most of the more advanced drones are flown by laptop with maps and waypoints, joysticks as a back up only. There are a number of ins and outs, system configurations, and you'll still get 'pilot error'... I guess it boils down to knowing that what is in the air is actually a computer controlled flight capable 'drone' or is it a toy controlled by an amateur with a joystick transmitter. If its the latter, yes I'd be a little concerned of the falling object hazard.
As far as being annoying, I can't help anyone with that... I think the benefit out weighs the minor noise pollution.
How do I know this? I had a pretty nice drone about 3 years ago. I lost it because I was stupid, I was flying on manual without the Nav module installed. After enjoying numerous flights at no more than 20 ft high and 50 ft away from me I go a little too brave and went about 70 feet and starting catching heavier cross winds. Eventually I got disoriented and lost my point of reference (the drones are totally symmetrical). Long story short, I couldn't get my bearings and the drone drifted farther away until I lost transmitter connection and the drone just flew off into the sunset. That was a $800 carbon fiber drone lost somewhere on a mountain side. That is exactly the scenario where the 'go home' feature of the flight computer would have saved my biscuits.
For the purposes of this discussion, since I am pointing the finger squarely at myself as an example, at least in my situation I was flying in the middle of nowhere (AZ desert), with no one or nothing to harm. I did go looking for the airframe on my dirt bike, I never found it... brutal terrain.
Now there's an idea! Battle Drones that could be fun for the operators and entertaining for the spectators as well.I'd like it almost as much as I like 5200!!!
May be fun for the operator, but would sure be an annoyance to me.
I'd either invest in anti-drone capabilities or get one myself to remove the intrusion.
I was going to say target practice too. The privacy issue is way more important than the thing maybe falling on you. The lawyers would disagree, but I don't see much difference between a drone flying over my boat and one over my back yard. My cockpit is my back yard when I'm on the boat. If I ever see one over my yard it's dead meat.
Let me see....last year in a nice quiet anchorage with several other boats and a drone was buzzing overhead for an hour or so..... thoughts went to flare guns etc. :cussing::cussing:
I was equating it somewhere up there with PWC's :cussing::cussing:
Sounds like most folks are reading the "intrusive" part of the possibilities, rather than the forensic in-the-marina-to-check-the-headstay-at-the-top part???
I wouldn't mind the latter and would share a beer to two for a check of my rigging "up there".
At an anchorage. Nawwwhhhh.
I wouldn't mind the latter and would share a beer to two for a check of my rigging "up there".
At an anchorage. Nawwwhhhh.
Of course there are valid uses for everything. It's not so much the technology but the idiots operating it. When they're interfering with air traffic and landing on the White House lawn, that's just going too far.Sounds like most folks are reading the "intrusive" part of the possibilities, rather than the forensic in-the-marina-to-check-the-headstay-at-the-top part???
I wouldn't mind the latter and would share a beer to two for a check of my rigging "up there".
At an anchorage. Nawwwhhhh.
Stu, this is the first time I have seen you take a pro-gun position.
Seriously though, I was just saying to my Bride the other day that this is going to be a problem moving forward. I can't walk through Boston without seeing at least two flying around. Some idiots even took it to a local dog park and was surprised when dog owners were pissed at them.
I can just see it now, you're hanging out at your favorite anchorage and one of these things flies by. Not only is a disturbance but now you have to worry if there are embarrassing photos of you going up on the internet somewhere.
I wonder how those things would react to a good old fashioned sling shot?
When I need a flare, up will do nicely as a direction. Not too much practice needed.If using a flare gun, though, be mindfull of whatever else might be downrange.
Anyone hits a moving drone with a flare gun or a slingshot gets $1000.... Err, maybe not. I don't think I'd want to put a 'bounty' out there, lol.
I was down at the ocean over Presidents weekend. At night, in a good breeze, someone was "droning". I was surprised it held position pretty well. It even had red and green lights! I can just imagine what is going to happen when the beach is covered with people laying out in the sun. The town banned skateboards years ago, so I can foresee another law being created.... or is that covered under a "public nuisance" law?
People hunt small game with slingshots, I don't think they would have much problem with a drone.
http://beforeitsnews.com/survival/2013/06/how-to-build-a-radiodrone-jammer-2477364.html
Push a button and casually keep drinking your beer.
Push a button and casually keep drinking your beer.
Spark gap transmitters won't work. These things are operating on spread spectrum technology.
The problem with your spark gap transmitter is it will interfere with other forms of communication in anything from TV to emergency communications. I strongly suggest not doing that, never mind the fine and jail time if you get caught. Also they are most effective at low frequencies. Present day almost everything is at higher frequencies.
As usual there is a time and place for these things. People do seem to be afraid of them, but I expect eventually we will find some king of neutral position. Model airplanes are forbidden by the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics, which is the biggest insurance carrier for RC airplanes and RC helicopters.) from flying overhead of anyone for safety. This is prudent. I see laws eventually applying to drones.
As to privacy, just go online and watch anyone's videos. You can't see inside windows with those things, same as seeing in from your car as you drive by. The outdoor privacy is just a little less than small aircraft flying over. Also not a big risk unless they get close. Now they are within shotgun, slingshot range.
Ken
The problem with your spark gap transmitter is it will interfere with other forms of communication in anything from TV to emergency communications. I strongly suggest not doing that, never mind the fine and jail time if you get caught. Also they are most effective at low frequencies. Present day almost everything is at higher frequencies.
As usual there is a time and place for these things. People do seem to be afraid of them, but I expect eventually we will find some king of neutral position. Model airplanes are forbidden by the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics, which is the biggest insurance carrier for RC airplanes and RC helicopters.) from flying overhead of anyone for safety. This is prudent. I see laws eventually applying to drones.
As to privacy, just go online and watch anyone's videos. You can't see inside windows with those things, same as seeing in from your car as you drive by. The outdoor privacy is just a little less than small aircraft flying over. Also not a big risk unless they get close. Now they are within shotgun, slingshot range.
Ken