If you've been wanting to get an aerial perspective but dont have a clue how to fly an octocopter, check out the new LA100 by Lehmann Aviation. They've designed a drone that flies itself while an attached GoPro records the flight. After take off, the drone follows a preset flight pattern for five minutes and gives an excellent view of the surrounding area. While the usefulness for creative filming is severely limited by the lack of variety in flight path, it's a fantastic idea for hobbyists who want to get a birds eye view.
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I cannot even begin to imagine the legal ramifications that company will face for marketing an autonomous aircraft product. The FAA doesn't like drones, R/C hobby groups don't like drones, and the public generally does not either. It is a shame too, as there are some great things you could do!
Yep!
Specially since an article right here on fstoppers said the the lwa isn't there yet (to let you own and operate a drone)...
Well, good thing Lehmann isn't an American company nor do the French give a flying (heh) spit about our FAA....
I think the issue we're going to run into with this stuff is, people are sloppy. Although it does 'fly itself" as the parts wear out, they won't fly correctly, batteries don't hold as good of a charge, and as they change something on it, so will the CG (Center of Gravity) Some kid is going to end up doing stupid because he thinks he can buy it and fly it for the rest of their life without issue. It's going to hit somebody eventually. Not everybody will have issue, but somebody will. I know from experience, I use to fly when I was a kid and we did some pretty stupid stuff because we didn't know any better.
I fly planes still, I love it, but even with the foam it's dangerous. The autonomous drones like this assume you know the area well enough not to get yourself into trouble, and this just simply isn't the case. if you are smart you'll set a high enough altitude to watch out, but again, some kid isn't going to.
Also, this thing is rather expensive for being a non FPV system.
Careful, many municipalities(mostly in larger cities) are creating laws preventing operation of drones by private citizens citing danger to the public. I have used them a few times but before I did I contacted my business insurance agent and was informed that my liability would not cover me. Nor could I buy coverage that would. If this thing crashes into lets say a car that then crashes into a bus stop killing someone I would be liable civilly and likely looking at criminal charges. I am interested in seeing where this goes with law and insurance as local TV news stations have a great application for something like this.
footage is pretty nasty. and all the other problems people have mentioned. :P
The problem with autonomous drones, RC, etc is that they are dangerous. Sure, an MCPX can't do a lot of damage, but a 450 can break bones with its rotors. Those multirotors are heavy and so are a lot of planes. It's a matter of time before someone who doesn't know what they doing doesn't do a proper inspection or maintain their batteries or fails to take any of the proper precautions and crashes it into a crowd or flies into someone.
I say bah humbug to you lot, this is going at the top of my wish list!
The current FAA guidelines for hobby aircraft (UAV) indicate that autonomous drones are illegal period. So this platform will never fly in the US for more than obvious reasons. As far as danger goes yes in the hands of a inexperienced pilot they are but there are guidelines and common sense methods for flying safely. In February of 2012 Obama signed a bill that challenges the FAA to come up with a solution for the ever increasing use of aerial platform for the public sector. This is expected to be ratified sometime in the next several years. Currently there are only a handful of colleges , universities and private operators licensed to fly UAV's in the US.