51–60 of 167 posts
...and won that one, big time: nowadays, just suggest that the road is not exclusively owned by cars, and watch the foaming-at-the-mouth flamewar.
In the US, maybe, but for sure not in Europe. We don't even have a word for "jaywalking" in Germany.
...and won that one, big time: nowadays, just suggest that the road is not exclusively owned by cars, and watch the foaming-at-the-mouth flamewar.
In the US, maybe, but for sure not in Europe. We don't even have a word for "jaywalking" in Germany.
IIRC, it's a traffic offense in Germany, too (as well as here in Prague ;)). While city centers may be pedestrianized again, it's bound to be an uphill battle for some time.
From my experience in flying drones in wintery mountains, it could be a battery failure. Cold batteries suddenly drops in voltage, too fast for the failsafe mechanisms to trigger. Can explain why it drops like a brick and not slowly descends.
I think the title should be updated a bit here. When I read "drone nearly hits" I imagined it flying by and getting to close on the way passed. The video shows it crashing to the ground with some force. It isn't clear whether this is under its own power (so an issue in directional control by either a pilot error or equipment fault) or due to loss of power (so it hit the ground due to gravity). Either way it could hav…
The drone in the video seems to be flying like a brick; complete engine shutdown, IMNSHO. If any of the four rotors were operating, the vector would be significantly different. As to why "it's raining drones, hallelujah" - too early for that; I very much doubt there's enough of a data recorder to reconstruct the event, even with a commercial-grade drone.
Why do you think that? It's very easy to record telemetry data on even hobby level devices. In fact, it's pretty standard if someone uses a ground station. I'd be surprised if a commercial grade drone didn't have that capability.
I used to fly remote control aeroplanes as a hobby. There's a really strong culture of having a licence and insurance before you're allowed to fly solo. You have to pass a test before you can get insurance, and there are more tests if you want to fly around spectators (stunt shows, etc). This seems to be completely missing in the drone community. I quizzed some drone enthusiasts about it and they responded with "meh"…
It must be technically possible to prevent a drone from flying below a certain altitude. Probably one of the many features that will be added to drones in the coming years.
How would that help? The obvious solution would be to have strict corridors (which it sounds like they had in theory) for drones.
I think the title should be updated a bit here. When I read "drone nearly hits" I imagined it flying by and getting to close on the way passed. The video shows it crashing to the ground with some force. It isn't clear whether this is under its own power (so an issue in directional control by either a pilot error or equipment fault) or due to loss of power (so it hit the ground due to gravity). Either way it could hav…
Not either way.
If it was the pilot's mistake then yes, but if power was lost then the blades would not have had much force anymore. They can cause very serious cuts when propelled, but half a second after losing power they hardly have any momentum left. Tripping the skier over would likely have been the worst of it, if a loss of power was the case.
Either way, safeguards may be necessary when flying so close to fragile objects...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The drone in the video seems to be flying like a brick; complete engine shutdown, IMNSHO. If any of the four rotors were operating, the vector would be significantly different. As to why "it's raining drones, hallelujah" - too early for that; I very much doubt there's enough of a data recorder to reconstruct the event, even with a commercial-grade drone.
> I very much doubt there's enough of a data recorder to reconstruct the event, even with a commercial-grade drone. Why do you think that? It's very easy to record telemetry data on even hobby level devices. In fact, it's pretty standard if someone uses a ground station. I'd be surprised if a commercial grade drone didn't have that capability.
A mandatory security parachute could avoid this scenario. To ban drones is the simple way out.
A mandatory security parachute could avoid this scenario. To ban drones is the simple way out.