Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think you missed my point. Real model flight enthusiasts will only fly their birds at RC clubs. Clubs impose structure, safety rules, etc. In other words, even if you are flying total crap the probability of hurting anyone or causing property damage is greately reduced. To anser the other part of your question. A $3K heli has significantly better electronics and mechanics when compared to something like a DJI quad.…
It would seem we are missing each other's. "Club's impose structure, safety rules etc" given this and other automated drones the imposition of structure and safety rules is/can be written into the software. There has been mention of providing no-fly zones that people could register and given a companies interest in brand preservation the drones would respect the no-fly zones as long as untampered with. However, I do…
No software today can do what a reponsible human being flying at a club does. It's the equivalent of letting people take off and land full scale airplanes and helicopters from anywhere, fly at any altitude, in any manner they wish and without traffic control. In other words, unthinkable.
I do not fly over people or property. Software cannot make that decision for me. And software certainly cannot restrict people buying a $300 quadcopter from flying it above a group of kids at the park or over a crowd elsewhere. It is a simple matter of individual responsibility and consideration for the wellbeing of others. I choose to fly at a club because after 30 years of experience flying (and, yes, crashing) all kinds of model aircraft I know these things can fail anywhere, any time and for a million different reasons. It is beyond irresponsible to fly these things in uncontrolled airspace.