4 ms·

It is irresponsible, but I think you're overstating the risk. This looks like footage from a gopro (due to the wide angle shots). This only requires a small d

by jewel 12y ago

It is irresponsible, but I think you're overstating the risk. This looks like footage from a gopro (due to the wide angle shots). This only requires a small drone to carry, like the DJI Phantom. The total weight for the phantom and camera is going to be something like 2.5 lb, and that weight is spread across a device that is rather large. I wouldn't want to get hit on the head by one, of course, but I don't think it would be possible to kill someone since its terminal velocity is going to be pretty slow.

robomartin 12y ago
No, you are wrong. From that altitude it can do anything from severely disfigure, paralyze or, yes, kill someone. Did you see that shot where it flies right by that crane? Irresponsible doesn't quite describe it. I've been deeply involved in RC flight for over 30 years. I cannot imagine how these people think it OK to fly toy-grade products over people like that. A DJI with a Gopro is a toy. I have $10,000 RC helicopters and planes. They are fucking toys. Having seen the range of failure modes I have over the years I can only characterize these people as irresponsible morons. I also say this from the context of having designed and manufactured high quality electronic products for the RC and military targetting drone industries.
- ivanca 12y ago
  I'm just waiting for someone to create a (fail-safe) parachute for those devices so we can just move on from the "it's gonna fall!" arguments.
viraptor 12y ago
It doesn't have to be about the weight/speed. Unless it actually crashes in a fail-safe way, it may keep the blades spinning. It's very unlikely to kill you, but can easily cause pretty deep cuts. I play with rc planes usually and would really like to see some docs on failure modes / failure rates of typical *copter drones. My planes / controller failed enough times that I'll probably never fly any toy over people. Maybe the newer models are much better. I'd like to know if that's the case.

by jewel 12y ago

robomartin 12y ago

No, you are wrong. From that altitude it can do anything from severely disfigure, paralyze or, yes, kill someone. Did you see that shot where it flies right by that crane? Irresponsible doesn't quite describe it. I've been deeply involved in RC flight for over 30 years. I cannot imagine how these people think it OK to fly toy-grade products over people like that. A DJI with a Gopro is a toy. I have $10,000 RC helicopters and planes. They are fucking toys. Having seen the range of failure modes I have over the years I can only characterize these people as irresponsible morons. I also say this from the context of having designed and manufactured high quality electronic products for the RC and military targetting drone industries.

ivanca 12y ago
I'm just waiting for someone to create a (fail-safe) parachute for those devices so we can just move on from the "it's gonna fall!" arguments.

viraptor 12y ago

It doesn't have to be about the weight/speed. Unless it actually crashes in a fail-safe way, it may keep the blades spinning. It's very unlikely to kill you, but can easily cause pretty deep cuts. I play with rc planes usually and would really like to see some docs on failure modes / failure rates of typical *copter drones. My planes / controller failed enough times that I'll probably never fly any toy over people. Maybe the newer models are much better. I'd like to know if that's the case.