Comment by Axure on November 18, 2011 at 12:57pm

Two comments, to clarify a bit:

1) The drone used to make this video is a commercial device, professionally maintained and tested. The company operating it undoubtedly has relevant permissions from Polish authorities - at least for "normal" work (filming vistas, buildings, etc, as can be seen on Robokopter's YouTube channel). I'm not sure that automatically translates to legality of flying above crowded streets. Indeed Polish authorities seem to be a bit puzzled by this: The pilot has admitted on a Polish FPV forum, that he had to do some explaining to security services, but so far no-one has challenged the legality of these flights.

It's also worth noting that the pilot was pretty careful in terms of the drone's safety. You might notice at 1:30 of the first film a projectile flying roughly in the direction of the drone. It is also the moment, when the pilot decided to withdraw. ;)  [The projectile was a tear gas canister, not an RPG, as someone commented on YouTube ;)]

 

2) Robert Lefebvre, indeed, on that ground-level video, that is a plain-clothes policeman (brownish jacket) beating a protester/hooligan (blue jacket), who's only fault was that he was walking in a group of skinheads - but failed to run as fast as they did. Warsaw Police has admitted the aggressor was a policeman, suspended him and launched a criminal investigation.

Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on November 18, 2011 at 1:02pm

Axure, I'm glad to hear that your police forces are more professional than ours.  When things like that happen here, the police try to cover it up, justify it in the name of "officer's safety", or confiscate the video and charge the camer operator with some minor crime.

Comment by Ellison Chan on November 18, 2011 at 1:25pm

Come Robert, do we live in the same country?  Just do a quick youtube search on "Vancouver riot", you can see how many people "got away" with shooting videos without getting arrested or confiscated.  

Axure, I don't think people are worried about the drone's safety.  We're more worried about people's safety.  As, I had mentioned in the other video, the craft and skill with which it was flown appeared to me like a professional endeavour. Anyone who thinks that police would shoot an RPG in the air like that, let alone have or bring and RPG to riot control has been watching too many movies.

Comment by Peter Seddon on November 18, 2011 at 1:33pm

I hope that despite the complaints of some members, who appear to set themselves up as judge, jury and self imposed censor, that posts such as this will continue to be allowed, so that we are all allowed to use our own judgement as to the content, the implications of the content; and that we continue to be allowed to comment on the content of posts and do not fall into the trap of making unfounded assumptions, moralise or be judgemental of the poster.

 

 

Developer Comment by John Arne Birkeland on November 18, 2011 at 1:36pm

This is turning into one of the usual safety discussions threads you find on rcgroups, so I will say my standard party line and then be done with this thread..

"Stupid people will continue to do stupid things, regardless of the number of laws or rules put in place."

Comment by Axure on November 18, 2011 at 1:56pm

Ellison Chan, please note a direct connection between the safety of a drone and of the people directly beneath it. This is why I mentioned it.

Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on November 18, 2011 at 2:14pm

@Ellison, I was wondering the same thing, if we are living in the same country.  Yes, people are now able to film police activities, but only after that right was backed up by the courts.  The police attempted to create their own laws, as they often do, and might do again in this case with "Drone Journalism".  They will say that it is illegal for some trumped up reason, and prevent people from doing it, until somebody with enough money fights them in court.

 

The more relevant discussion is, how often do videos lead to effective prosecution of the police?  How many police officers served time for the murder of Robert Dziekański?  None.  One of them went on to commit Impaired Driving Causing Death, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Obstruction of Justice.  He didn't perform CPR on Robert Dziekanski, nor render aid to Orion Hutchison.  He is still suspended with pay.

 

These guys absolutely need watching.

Comment by Ellison Chan on November 18, 2011 at 2:27pm

Well, I'm all for monitoring the police and Drone Journalism, but I'm just saying it should be done safely.  Technology advancement is no excuse to disregard public safety.

Robert, the Dziekanski case is a prime example of how a bystander's use of amateur video is helping to monitor the police.  I'm not arguing that they don't need monitoring.  I was just saying that people in Canada don't get arrested and their videos confiscated by police for no valid reason.  As in the Vancouver case, the police actually benefited from amateur video.

Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on November 18, 2011 at 2:43pm

They benefitted from video?  How many people have been formally charged and been tried?

 

In the case of the G20 riots, I think the protesters would be safer with a drone directly over their heads.  Might help prevent police abuse.

Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on November 18, 2011 at 2:55pm

@Ellison, still think that it's not illegal to film the police?

 

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/11/nypd-occupy-press-pass/?ut...

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