Guys, stop buying and flying quads when you don't know what you are doing. Especially over crowds or populated areas. This should be common sense.
RAW video link - http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=9270819
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I think this just demonstrates that we are at the Height of Inflated Expectations. As Gary and Morli point out, the technology isn't nearly as foolproof as people think.
Edgar,
RTF is not a magic word for avoiding obstacles like buildings. As you know, it flies straight back( LOS ) . but if you have zigzaged while FPVing around couple of buildings , then it will fly straight into any/all the building between Home and where RTF was triggered. The UAV has to be high above all the obstacles when RTF trigger can show/come to home like magic. The Issue with noob flying is that he/she wouldn't know/realize this(imagine the sales pitch on box " No RC flying experience required" ) and will imagine the quad zigzagging in the streets to avoid the buildings and trying to come home. Nope, thats not going to happen any time soon with these UAV in RTF mode. Cheers
@Edgar Unfortunately one of the things least understood about people are the severe limitations of current autopilot systems.
You can bet that DJI Phantom flyer never heard of GPS multipath.
And in the area of large buildings, multipath is unavoidable and often renders the GPS completely useless.
Turn off the transmitter to force an RTL and it can easily think home is in the middle of the building you are trying to avoid.
In the future, more and more emphasis is going to be placed on actually sensing the true physical environment around you and responding to it and that will definitely build in a modicum of safety.
But dependency on GPS, especially for the very small distances that are really relevant to multicopters isn't it.
Of course the main thing is that the need for the safety of not endangering people or property needs to be much better promoted.
@Muhammad
Shut off the controller and the Phantom will fly home, land itself and shut itself down so I would say yes.
I like UAS or Unmanned Aerial System, its less scary to public perception.
Ed,
It is FAA which classifies such airframes as "drones" if I am not wrong. :(
Bad/sensational news is good for news media, remember that. Lets not feed them. when the word "drone " makes it to common man via media, he visualizes Predator like stuff and not a Quad or some thing that we guys fly yet we the hobby Diy UAV community will take the brunt of it .
@Morli: Those DJI props look like they really stand up to their claims.
@Chuck: It's sad how the media uses "drone" to sell these kinds of stories. That being said, I wonder: does the Naza qualify the quad as a drone?
We really don't need such exposures. I won't get into who is to blame. If the guy was member of decent RC club which imparts some discipline and flying ability then this may not happen. Like few posts here pointing this, the video shows a good quality since it is recorded on board. This quality of video is not available always on FPV end. However the idiot was trying to fly visually or FPV , either way it was doomed to start with. neither would he get good fpv signals back nor will he have good controls.I too was surprised to see the quad bang into buildings few times yet recover( definitely not because of pilot's skill)..Anyway like some one said, the air current among so many high rise buildings will be notoriously turbulent , would need serious experience to handle it( not to mention the stupidity of trying it over Manhattan sky). It was luck that prevented it crashing on the business man's head.
God help us DIY guys in 2014.
I can't believe anyone would fly near a skyscraper unless they are a seriously experienced pilot and have permission. The wind currents around those buildings are so unpredictable and it would be difficult for most quads to handle that intense up/down draft experienced around the tower. Not to mention all the radio interference from a major city. It is a shame that can not call it what it is, a RC vehicle.
@Jared, how can the FAA issue someone with a licence then take the licence away to ban someone, when that person is already doing something is is banned?
I agree that manufacturers of these drones which are targeted at n00bs, should take responsibly for allowing these n00bs to get into situations that otherwise they wouldn't even get off the deck with a collective pitch copter!
I believe that gun manufacturers have legally been found liable for actions of their users, so why not manufacturers?
That you did. Apologies. ;-)
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