Security alert at White House as 'quad copter

[seeder]

Security alert at White House as 'quad copter' drone found on grounds

Presidential mansion temporarily on lockdown with Obama in India

Investigation under way to determine motive and identify suspects

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/26/security-alert-white-house-device-drone-found

In reading the article you see one guy owns up to it. But still, it just shows how the drones could be used

[Q-C]

I found a hamburger in my pool last night. I wonder if I should've put the house on lockdown? Somehow we survived, though.

[sear]

Thanks for the topic seeder.

Uncle Sam's attitude about these drones may soon approach paranoic.

As soon as one is used as a murder weapon, I expect a major backlash reaction. Candidly, I'm surprised that hasn't happened already.

There's some controversy about whether the FAA even has the legal authority to regulate them (I believe it does).

I suspect Congress may try to require manufacturers to build trap-doors into them, so the police can seize control of them while they're in flight.

That may be a few years away.

I'd like to buy such a drone. But for $1,200.oo I can't find any that has enough range to cover the territory I'd like to cover.

And their duration aloft, while impressive from a technological perspective; is quite limited for practica applications.

iirc ISIL is already using them.

The U.S. military of course, has some nice combat zone reconnaissance drones.

I've only seen fixed-wing models, but I don't know what else we use.

[Agent0range]

Thanks for the topic seeder.

Uncle Sam's attitude about these drones may soon approach paranoic.

As soon as one is used as a murder weapon, I expect a major backlash reaction. Candidly, I'm surprised that hasn't happened already.

There's some controversy about whether the FAA even has the legal authority to regulate them (I believe it does).

I suspect Congress may try to require manufacturers to build trap-doors into them, so the police can seize control of them while they're in flight.

That may be a few years away.

I'd like to buy such a drone. But for $1,200.oo I can't find any that has enough range to cover the territory I'd like to cover.

And their duration aloft, while impressive from a technological perspective; is quite limited for practica applications.

iirc ISIL is already using them.

The U.S. military of course, has some nice combat zone reconnaissance drones.

I've only seen fixed-wing models, but I don't know what else we use.

Of course the FAA has the legal authority to regulate them. People have been flying remote control airplanes for years, for recreation. It is mostly done in groups, and in designated areas. The problem with drones is that they are used less for recreation, and more to spy on your neighbors wife by the pool. If it truly was for recreation, people would have no problem doing it in the designated areas...

[Michelle]

We are just begining to see the nefarious uses drones can have.

Police in a Mexican border city said Wednesday that a drone overloaded with illicit methamphetamine crashed into a supermarket parking lot.

Tijuana police spokesman Jorge Morrua said authorities were alerted after the drone fell Tuesday night near the San Ysidro crossing at Mexico's border with California.

Six packets of the drug, weighing more than six pounds, were taped to the six-propeller remote-controlled aircraft. Morrua said authorities are investigating where the flight originated and who was controlling it. He said it was not the first time they had seen drones used for smuggling drugs across the border.

cont...

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/drug-laden-drone-crashes-us-mexico-border-28389101

[sear]

Thanks AO,

Yes. I agree about the FAA's authority. And I also agree, the trespass potential is enormous.

I've read that regulations are in the works. But I don't know what, or when.

Thanks M.

I think I saw a pic of that crashed -copter.

And yes. The crime potential is substantial.

[Beefers]

Since they know what they themselves do with drones, I can imagine they must be terrified if someone flies a drone at them.

[kartikg]

It's pretty easy to build a drone which will make them hard to regulate.

[seeder]

Heres a shot of the people (and royals/soldiers/govt figures too), at the cenotaph for remembrance day. can you imagine a drone, or even 2, packed with explosive and coming down very quickly? By the time you heard the drone and looked up it would be too late

Mass deaths. No matter who regulates them, they can still be used by terrorists. same as guns, outlawed in the UK, but there's plenty criminals who have them and use them daily

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/gallery/2009/nov/08/remembranceday-military

Edited January 28, 2015 by Still Waters
Replaced copyrighted image with source link

[questionmark]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- An employee of an obscure Defense Department intelligence agency has admitted flying a drone while drunk and being behind the White House crash, officials said.

The man called to report he was behind the security breach in the small hours of Monday morning, the Secret Service said. An agent patrolling the grounds heard and saw the 2-foot quad copter just after 3 a.m.

The Secret Service said the http://www.upi.com/T.../#ixzz3Q7ezGPh3

Now, if I may ask: is the government only employing the best and the brightest of every family nowadays?

Edited January 28, 2015 by questionmark

[SHaYap]

Sometimes I do wonder if the people in the US actually realises or is even aware of the fact that they are living under an intense microscope of global media attention ~

~

[Still Waters]

The Chinese manufacturer of a drone that crashed into the White House lawn earlier this week is taking action to prevent repeat incidents.

DJI said it would publish a firmware update in the "coming days" that would prevent its kit flying inside Washington DC's restricted airspace.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...nology-31023750

[MissJatti]

I vision something out of THE SIMPSONS here

[Taun]

Quote:

"An anonymous US official told the AP that the drone operator contacted the secret service to say that he did not mean to fly the drone over the White House. The Washington DC resident is cooperating with investigators and told the agency that he was using the device recreationally, according to the official.

The New York Times said the man is a government employee."

In other news.. .An undisclosed US Government Agency has announced that a position has just become available for interested applicants...

[bubblykiss]

"I say again unidentified craft what is your clearance?"

"Milwaukee's Best!"

[paperdyer]

Sometimes I do wonder if the people in the US actually realises or is even aware of the fact that they are living under an intense microscope of global media attention ~

~

A lot of us know. Many others don't care The extremists use any criticism as a reason to wave the flag and bang the drum while telling the rest of the world to f%$*-off! . That's one of the rights in the USA. You can be an ass clown and still be protected. Does that make us uncouth? Maybe, but it makes us who we are. We are far from perfect. Yes this guy was an idiot. Of course by today's standards, 2 drinks in one hour and you could be legally intoxicated. (Not that I'd EVER drink that many in a hour!) I'm usually on my 3rd by then. I just want to know how the manufacturers are going to keep these drones from flying into restricted air space if they can fly under the signal which tells a plane it's in restricted air space.

[SHaYap]

A lot of us know. Many others don't care The extremists use any criticism as a reason to wave the flag and bang the drum while telling the rest of the world to f%$*-off! . That's one of the rights in the USA. You can be an ass clown and still be protected. Does that make us uncouth? Maybe, but it makes us who we are. We are far from perfect. Yes this guy was an idiot. Of course by today's standards, 2 drinks in one hour and you could be legally intoxicated. (Not that I'd EVER drink that many in a hour!) I'm usually on my 3rd by then. I just want to know how the manufacturers are going to keep these drones from flying into restricted air space if they can fly under the signal which tells a plane it's in restricted air space.

Yeah , I do wonder how restrictions can be applied to these open market drones ~ I heard that Security Drones might be an answer but then those buggers buzzing all over the place all the time might get some getting use to ~

~

[IceBorne]

And I thought in the first place that Stan Smith strikes again. XD

[Atuke]

'Murica

[Agent0range]

Yeah , I do wonder how restrictions can be applied to these open market drones ~ I heard that Security Drones might be an answer but then those buggers buzzing all over the place all the time might get some getting use to ~

~

Like I said earlier. This is nothing new. Just because you add the name "drone" to it, means nothing. People in America have been flying remote control aircraft for DECADES. It has been regulated, and regulated well. I really can't fathom the fact that people think this is something new. Add a camera to it and it is a whole new beast? Nope.

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

Like I said earlier. This is nothing new. Just because you add the name "drone" to it, means nothing. People in America have been flying remote control aircraft for DECADES. It has been regulated, and regulated well. I really can't fathom the fact that people think this is something new. Add a camera to it and it is a whole new beast? Nope.

If James May's Toy Stories is anything to judge by, yes it is a new beast.

Basically, ifs hey wanted to fly an unpowered glider across the channel, the French were fine with it until they said it'd have a camera attached, that made it an entirely different kettle of fish legally and they had to say "non".

[Agent0range]

If James May's Toy Stories is anything to judge by, yes it is a new beast.

Basically, ifs hey wanted to fly an unpowered glider across the channel, the French were fine with it until they said it'd have a camera attached, that made it an entirely different kettle of fish legally and they had to say "non".

This is not France. Radio controlled aerial vehicles have been regulated in the United States for a very long time.

[jarjarbinks]

Drink like 100ml of warm budweiser and then "lOLZ iMa flYiNG DaT ovER the WHEITe HOUse !! lramo

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

This is not France. Radio controlled aerial vehicles have been regulated in the United States for a very long time.

Indeed, what's the American law on surveillance cameras?

[Sir Smoke aLot]

I just want to know how the manufacturers are going to keep these drones from flying into restricted air space if they can fly under the signal which tells a plane it's in restricted air space.

I guess that its easy enough to implement some positioning software in it and use satellites, GPS kind of navigation which has all those restricted areas marked on its maps. Getting close to those areas could trigger all sorts of response on device. Now days with free OS and navigation satellites it should be pretty easy and also very accurate.

Anyways, drone in city = problem. People should never be allowed to fly them freely, only at specific areas.