DIY Drones Take on Silicon Valley

http://online.wsj.com/video/D45D229F-EF5A-44C7-AAD4-5C35ABD3D65C.html

by philipdlang • 14 years ago

30 10 14 years ago

online.wsj.com

rollypolly• 14 years ago

There's so much potential for drones.. for example, I'd love to see traffic monitors that use drones.

What I mean is, on top of having color-coded maps, I'd like to see a bird's-eye view just by clicking on the map, that'd be sweet.

asynchronous13• 14 years ago

i'm working on it ;-)

Atrus6• 14 years ago

Would you care to elaborate how you'll be able to power a drone for an extended amount of time? I was doing some minor research (I was curious about the pirate bays 'server drone' idea), and the best that I could personally come up with was flight times of about an hour. That doesn't seem all that useful to maintain a constant server, or traffic cam, presence.

stevenrace• 14 years ago

I don't think drones would be any more helpful than well placed static sensors* (say, atop existing lightpoles). Or a tethered mylar baloon w/ a wireless camera.

The total time of flight is limited by battery capacity - and adding video transfer [and/or basic CV] is going to obliterate whats left of the charge.

I think for survey, emergency services, and short distance deliveries [burritos] are easier targets for drones.

*our startup is firmly in the 'ubiquitous, cheap sensor' camp of traffic monitoring.

pepijndevos• 14 years ago

Am i the only one for who this video is broken in 3 different browsers?

Other video: http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/diy-drones-take-on-silic...

johnohara• 14 years ago

I walked into Home Depot yesterday to buy a saw blade. The tools aisle had an eye level security camera with a proximity sensor that chirped to get my attention. I looked at it and there I was -- being recorded.

I took it up with the store manager who informed me it was for theft deterrence. So, y'know, no problem. There was another camera in the electrical aisle near the bulk wire. Each self-checkout lane had a camera too. I was recorded three separate times.

The manager could not tell me where or how long my image would be stored or how it would be used. So now HD has my credit card number, a digital signature, a photo ID and from overhead, a shopping pattern.

That's more info than I was required to provide the state police for a background check needed to teach.

The saw blade cost $4.95.

Do we really want all these drones in addition to the millions of cameras already in place?

adamjernst• 14 years ago

Theft is a real problem for these stores. And theft makes me angry.

I'm willing to trade being recorded in public for a low-crime society.

DIY Drones Take on Silicon Valley

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