Search found 7 matches

by G.A. Heath
Sun Dec 25, 2016 10:30 am
Forum: Never Again!!
Topic: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"
Replies: 66
Views: 19708

Re: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"

The commercially produced drones with 4k cameras have some very good resolution, but simply being able to identify a face does not mean that the drone was spying. It could have been flying got shot, and as it fell landed close enough to the shooter that during it's decent or actual impact it captured an image of the offenders face. The person who shot it down might also pick it up and inspect it revealing their face.

Additionally if you have a drone that does get shot down and the operator has line of sight (LoS) on it they will have a general idea of were it crashed. If the operator is recording the video on their controller they can narrow down where it went down very quickly and locating the device becomes much easier. If someone shoots down a quadcopter it's video will show what happened to some degree if it is recorded.
by G.A. Heath
Sun Dec 18, 2016 9:33 pm
Forum: Never Again!!
Topic: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"
Replies: 66
Views: 19708

Re: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"

Mxrdad wrote:
rm9792 wrote:
Mxrdad wrote:I hear ya, I have felt "naked" a few times not long ago. Not a good feeling. On a side note, I want to throw something out here.

I

One more thing to consider, since these drones are registered with the FAA, their flights are recorded and can be tracked. It is a huge no-no and a crime to shoot one of these out of the sky. Since they can be tracked, the flight data shows a ton of info and will show the exact flight path from take off to landing (or crashing) complete with altitude, speed, degrees of turns, etc. But I have to admit, the thought of popping one of these out of the sky sounds fun but the recourse could be expensive. I would not recommend it.

.
Where did you get the idea they can be recorded and tracked? Registration just gives the FAA your name and address if it crashes and an investigation is done. Yes I have a Phantom 3 and it does record the flights but it doesn't send that data anywhere.
I dont know if posting a link to a site breaks the rules or not so I wont. But if you search Phantom pilots (a forum) you will see many topics about lost drones. There are folks there that can diagnose the data if you download the data to a site called healthy drones. Its amazing all the details they can tell you about a flight. Since you do have the Phantom, that site will be a wealth of help and information, definitely check it out. :cheers2:
But YOU have to download the data, and YOU have to submit it as well. The DJI app doesn't even submit your flight data to their website unless you "sync" it yourself.
by G.A. Heath
Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:51 pm
Forum: Never Again!!
Topic: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"
Replies: 66
Views: 19708

Re: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"

tbrown wrote:The cameras aren't good enough to spy on people but if you take one down you'll get caught on camera.

:headscratch
I never said anything about the camera not being good enough to spy on someone. But if you want to spy on someone there are definately methods that make much less noise than a quadcopter does.
by G.A. Heath
Sun Dec 18, 2016 12:04 am
Forum: Never Again!!
Topic: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"
Replies: 66
Views: 19708

Re: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"

The Dude wrote:It's a shame they don't have that technology for airliners. They would have known what happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 right away.
To a degree they get a lot of data sent back to the ground with newer aircraft, in fact IIRC Flight 370's engines sent data back indicating their speed (RPM) and such until they failed. This is all based on memory and I could have that aircraft confused with another.
by G.A. Heath
Sat Dec 17, 2016 10:47 pm
Forum: Never Again!!
Topic: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"
Replies: 66
Views: 19708

Re: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"

The Dude wrote:
Mxrdad wrote:One more thing to consider, since these drones are registered with the FAA, their flights are recorded and can be tracked. It is a huge no-no and a crime to shoot one of these out of the sky. Since they can be tracked, the flight data shows a ton of info and will show the exact flight path from take off to landing (or crashing) complete with altitude, speed, degrees of turns, etc.
Don't you need to recover the flight recorder first?
On a model with capabilities like a phantom 3 or later (possibly older versions as well) you get telemetry back to your controller and the app your smart device is running to assist controlling the UAS. While you might not be able to provide all the detail the on board systems (IMU) recorded, you can probably dial in exactly where the device went down and potentially even have video/still images of what brought it down if your recording on the smart device. I have had someone threaten to shoot mine down, he thought we were spying on his property over five miles away. Turns out his neighbor was flying that drone checking his own irrigation system.
by G.A. Heath
Fri Dec 16, 2016 3:41 pm
Forum: Never Again!!
Topic: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"
Replies: 66
Views: 19708

Re: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"

Glockster wrote:
Mxrdad wrote:
Alf wrote:
priusron wrote:He has a legal right to fly his drone.
Maybe, if he complies with all applicable FAA regulations, but he doesn't have any legal right to set foot on my property without permission.
He can not fly over "people". If it lands in a backyard, its reasonable to assume there is a house by that back yard. A Homeowner could easily prove that drone should not have been flying there.

And I agree, he has no legal right to set foot on anybodys property without permission. I would have a problem if one of those "Big Ones" landed in my yard. He and I would have to have a serious talk about that. Those "Big Ones" can certainly hurt someone falling from the sky, or easily crack a windshield or other property damage. Now a kid toy? Not a problem. I would gladly give it back to the kid except I would retrieve it in my backyard if I could easily do so. Now if its high up in the tree, I wouldnt let them get it out due to liability. I wouldnt want someone climbing a ladder and risk a fall or other injury. I would let them know its in a tree and if/when it comes down, I'll let ya know.

What is the reference for your "can not fly over people" restriction? I'm unaware of that general restriction so having it would be helpful.
It's part of the FAA rules passed by executive fiat around this time last year IIRC.
by G.A. Heath
Thu Dec 15, 2016 8:41 pm
Forum: Never Again!!
Topic: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"
Replies: 66
Views: 19708

Re: "My Drone Crashed in Your Backyard"

I own an Unmanned Ariel System, and I am very much into operating it legally. Texas Government Code chapter 423 is considered to be one of the most draconian drone laws in the nation. in reality it all falls on what the definition of "surveillance" is. Also if the operator is licensed to fly commercially then they are prohibited from flying at night, unless they get a waiver from the FAA. Night flights for hobbyists are a grey area, and the FAA discourages those.

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