All posts by personal drones

Quadcopters and multirotors, a focus on security

As noted in this interesting article at smartdrones, at the moment security does not seem to be at the first place in the mind of quadcopter and multicopter producers and designers.

As a simple observation, as things stand now, if a DJI Phantom motor or esc fails during flight, the quadcopter will crash for sure. Whether it hits and injures somebody or something, is just a matter of chance. The probability of some damage is dependent on the density of targets in the flying area. If the area is heavily populated, or worse, if flying over a crowd, bad things can and will happen.

Rotating blades are like knives, and usually exposed on current quadcopter models.

Technology and design already provide some interesting solutions, that are however applied only in rare cases, and nearly never by default on current models.

Raffaello D’andrea showed that a quadcopter is able to fly, although in a strange way (continuously yawing), with just two opposite motors working instead of 4. See the following video from 6:30

So on a motor failure, in principle the opposite motor could be automatically shut off and the quad forced into “yaw mode”. This by itself could prevent so many crashes.

Another example of available technology is the use of parachutes that can be triggered from the radio if something goes wrong during the flight, here you go:

Last but not least, quadcopter and multirotor frames could be constructed with some kind of embedded protection for the propellers. This is the approach Safeflight Copters is developing, images were taken from the Safeflight web site:

SFC4410 Safelight Quadcopter
SFC4410 Safelight Quadcopter
Safelight frame details
Safelight frame details – See how propellers are entirely “caged” from below and above
No screws or bolts, but many rubber bands are used in the assembly
No screws or bolts.  Many rubber bands are used in the assembly

See how it looks in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgxGYE6gloc

This is an interesting project I will keep an eye on. I love the idea to be able to crash with no fear of damage to things or people. Might well get one of those frames in the future.

Controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio wants two drones for Maricopa County

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, also known as “America’s tougher sheriff”, wants two drones (why two and not more, I wonder) to help in law enforcement tasks in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Sheriff Joe Arpaio – photo source

He plans to use them in surveillance of areas difficult to reach otherwise.

“Surveillance regarding crime scenes and drugs [and] catching dope peddlers,”

“sometimes it’s difficult to get to these areas but if you have this great equipment to take pictures it would help.”

He also plans to fly the drones over local prison: “We do have some small problems with people throwing drugs over the fence.”

Watching US borders is also an application Arpaio has in mind: “we may use them go find dope peddlers coming into the United States, we make many drug seizures, we’re only 70 miles from the border,”

Read the original article at rt.com

If you live in Arizona beware: Sheriff Arpaio may soon be watching you from the sky. If you don’t live in Arizona don’t feel excluded. Somebody else will soon be watching you from the sky anyway. If it’s not happening already.

Arendatorovnet strikes again – Quadcopter flying in Thailand

New videos posted on the Arendatorovnet youtube account. The guy seems in perfect control of his personal drone, apparently a DJI F450 quadcopter with an enormous battery:

Screenshot from an aredatorovnet video
Screenshot from an arendatorovnet video

piloted either FPV or LOS from a moving motorcycle. Each one of the videos talks freedom and control and is outstanding and inspiring, so we will continue to monitor the account.

Here’s the pilot, click to go to the youtube channel:

arrendatorovnet
arendatorovnet

And here are a couple of great videos:

LOS from moto: “Thailand, Koh Samui, Chaweng. 2013”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE3D-hOPm9w

FPV:  “Low flying”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAZn2j05JbY

I’d like to thank this guy for inspiration. Keep posting and keep up with the good work!

FBI and FAA investigate personal quadcopter drone that came within 200 feet of a commercial jet over New York City

A small drone, apparently a quadcopter “no more that 3 feet wide” came close, within 200 feet of a a commercial jet over NYC. The FBI and FAA are investigating the accident and are trying to locate the drone and the operator.

“The FBI is asking anyone with information about the unmanned aircraft or the operator to contact us,” said Special Agent in Charge John Giacalone. “Our paramount concern is the safety of aircraft passengers and crew.”

Source: CNN

20121206_Team_BlackSheep_LeWeb_002_620x435
TBS Discovery – For illustration purposes only

Amazing very long range FPV with mystery quadcopter in thailand

This are probably the most impressive FPV videos I have seen so far. The pilot skills are outstanding, and so is the video link range. The poster of the videos on youtube did not release the quadcopter specs and apparently is not answering questions right now. From another video, the quadcopter could be an F450 with a very very big battery on in it. Will follow the channel to see if more details are released.

Video 1: Koh Samui Sunset

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7dpQwggsLI

Video 2: Thailand, Koh Samui, Lamai, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4O_fP-8Krs