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Texas & western Iowa | A couple of things to consider on these 'out of the box' drones (quadcopters). They aren't sold with FPV (first person view) systems. FPV is an add on that not many people have or know how to use.
The commercially sold 'drones' without FPV are really nothing more than model aircraft. Fixed wing, rotorcraft, etc. They are flown 'line of sight' just like any other RC system. A quad pilot flying a white or light colored quad can loose sight fairly easily. These things are small and hard to follow in the sky. The point being....that the kid flying this thing probably isn't very far away. And if he's taking photos, he's guessing at what he might be photographing.
Adding an FPV system takes things to a different level. The off the shelf quad will come with a camera mount for taking pics. The FPV system comes with a small 2nd FPV camera, and (typically) goggles that the pilot views through. Not only is he looking FROM the quad, but he's seeing the same thing that his camera is shooting or filming. FPV also extends his range because he no longer has to keep the quad in sight. Get a little fancier and add a signal amplifier, and it usually doubles the range. Well out of sight of the pilot.
Another feature of the new radio systems is that if they lose radio signal and go into fail safe, they have a "return home" setting. So, if this kid's drone gets behind a barn, tree, whatever....and loses signal, his quad retraces it's flight back to him. Provided he knows how to set it up to do that.
Edited by PRNDL 5/15/2014 15:14
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Drone invading someone's privacy.
