vdeo from Gopro's test quadcopter

National drone racing chaimpionships!

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2997557/consumer-electronics/first-person-view-drone-racing-five-essential-tips-for-beginning-pilots.html

"Imagine a first-person-view video game where you’re racing through the air and dodging obstacles. Losing even one-tenth of a second can cost you the race. Now imagine that it’s not a video game. This is the sum-total experience of first-person-view (FPV) drone racing. Drone racers see all the action from their drone’s perspective as they weave through the air at upwards of 70 miles per hour. And it happens in places that were previously physically impossible to navigate.

Drone racing can be a bit intimidating, but I’m here to help. I’ve spent the past five years as an R/C flight enthusiast, and I founded the popular community and YouTube channel Flite Test in 2010. More recently, my feature film, Rotor DR1, features a drone race inspired by our community before FPV was even “a thing” (you can find it on Hulu here)."

another good use for a quadcopter... throw that rake away!

http://imgur.com/gallery/FCRn5AJ

paper drone

Recreational drone operators will need a license

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/faa-require-recreational-drone-operators-register-n447156

"The national registry will not hinder efforts to create overarching regulations, Foxx said. The registry task force will be made up of representatives from the federal government and the aviation and unmanned aircraft industries.
It will decide which drone owners are exempt from the registry and whether people who already own drones will be forced to register them.
Drone operators will be hit with 'penalties' if they fail to register their drones, Foxx said, although it's not clear what those penalties will be."

the one thing that is not mentioned is how big or technically proficient are the drones that need to be licensed?  Or are they going to even license those little 2" by 2" quadcopters?  I'm wondering...

A ghostly quadcopter for Halloween

New Ghost on the Block
This guy's going to make "scaring the trick-or-treaters" a new sport. (Video: DJ Vegh)http://bit.ly/1NJUtJ1
Posted by Popular Mechanics on Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Drone killing gun

http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/14/anti-drone-rifle-shoots-down-uavs-with-radio-waves/

"The weapon weighs roughly 10 pounds and can target drones up to 400 meters away. When the trigger is pulled, the gun emits a blast of electromagnetic energy tuned to the most common GPS and ISM frequencies, safely disabling the drone and preventing it from accepting any additional commands from its operator."

It had to happen sooner or later.

naughty drones

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/10/14/misbehaving-drones-increasingly-plague-uk-and-us-skies/?utm_source=Naked%2520Security%2520-%2520Feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_content=rss2&utm_campaign=Feed

"Over the past 24 months, UK police have recorded these incidents among plenty more:

• Concerns about drones flown over packed crowds at Hyde Park: a film-maker was fined £1,125 earlier this month, for illegally flying his drone over Hyde Park without permission during a shoot for a promotional video.
• Drugs (as well as knives, cameras and phones: all contraband) being dropped into prisons.
• Intrusion: Greater Manchester Police (GMP), for example, took one call that described how the 'occupant of house nearby is sending a radio-controlled drone over address where [informant] is sunbathing. Believe is taking photos. Been over three times now.'
• Distracted drivers: GMP logged one incident, titled 'Drone causing trouble,' noting that - 'someone is flying this drone over this junction. Looks like a giant spider and everyone is looking at it and not where they are going.'
• Merseyside police, among many other police departments, have logged reports about the use of camera drones near children. One log entry:' Drone over Funland playground - adult challenged.' Another: 'Suspicious circumstances. Drone near children’s play area.'"

Simple rules can change this. Enforcement is a must.

don't fly around the White House

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/white-house-drone-landing-tickets

"Sgt. Anna Rose of U.S. Park Police said Friday morning that the operators of the drone were on Washington Monument grounds overnight. She says the drone landed — and may have crashed — across Constitution Avenue on the Ellipse, a grassy park just south of the White House.
Rose says the operators were issued federal tickets, but were not arrested. Rose says there's no indication that the operators had any nefarious intent."

Think before you fly.

paparazzi can't use drones in California

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34460441

"California has put limits on flying drones, in an effort to stop paparazzi photographers from snapping photos of celebrities from afar.

The law expands the state's definition of invasion of privacy to include sending a drone over private property to make a recording or take photos.
Singer Miley Cyrus filmed a paparazzi drone flying above her home last year."

Sounds good to me. I like the rule that you can't fly over private property without permission.