Kentucky Man Shoots Down Drone Hovering Over His Yard

[Jago668]

Slightly off-topic, but y'all are better at technology than me:
What effect would a laser have on a drone? Could someone permanently damage the camera with a laser?
Curious and thanks in advance,
Nick

Considering the Navy has a laser that they destroyed some outboard motors with, and the like. I'm sure you could permanently damage a camera with a laser. The question is how strong of one would you need. I don't know if a little keychain one would do it. However those green lasers that you can pop balloons with, and melt plastic milk jugs would probably do the trick.

[ShootDontTalk]

Laser? Extraordinarily bad idea. You can't see a red laser well enough to aim it precisely. A green laser can be seen, but with all the idiots shooting them at aircraft lately, you might draw a SWAT team for your efforts.

We have virtually stopped using green lasers in our Star Parties (astronomy) because of the danger that you might illuminate an aircraft at altitude. They can be seen for miles - little hand held ones.

It is probably easier to buy a 40mm antiaircraft gun than a laser with enough power to actually bring anything down. Those lasers are still highly classified.

[Middle Age Russ]

Boomerang or Frisbee might be called for. "I was using that sky!"

[ajwakeboarder]

Laser? Extraordinarily bad idea. You can't see a red laser well enough to aim it precisely. A green laser can be seen, but with all the idiots shooting them at aircraft lately, you might draw a SWAT team for your efforts.

We have virtually stopped using green lasers in our Star Parties (astronomy) because of the danger that you might illuminate an aircraft at altitude. They can be seen for miles - little hand held ones.

It is probably easier to buy a 40mm antiaircraft gun than a laser with enough power to actually bring anything down. Those lasers are still highly classified.

Not really. Check out this kid. He's build lasers powerful enough to get into all sorts of trouble.
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It probably won't bring it down, but It could probably damage the camera lens or at least make it white out.

[maintenanceguy]

A better justification than "I own the sky" is "I have a right to privacy" - In my opinion.

A drone passing overhead on it's way somewhere else - not a violation of privacy. A drone hovering over my property peeping on my kids and wife - shoot it down.

[powerboatr]

if it was hovering right over his deck.....
how would the 4 guys know where it was if they werent SPYING on said man.
how far away were said four men...claiming it was a 1800.00 drone?
think about it
if it was your neighbor even three houses over...that may not be spying.
but if this drone was piloted from say a block or two over...wouldn't that be stalking

have to see how its played out
i bet the drone video will tell a story..and it may be this drone was harassing the guy by fling low over his yard
i think capture and mount might be a better choice

what if a drone crashes in your yard? are you obligated to return it? or find its owner?
if the four guys showed up wanting the errant drone...charge them a fee to recover the abandoned property

[DevilDawg]

This is liable to set a bad precedent in favor of spoiled children who have toys and no respect for life or liberty. The homeowner in the story shouldn't have used a shotgun inside city limits, and threatening with pistol was also stupid. He forced this to escalate thinking the law would side with him.

The LEO and the DA are overreaching and these two felony charges should be dropped. Pay some fines and court cost yes, but that's it.

That said, lasers are capable of "burning" the chip out on the camera and readily available ... Oops. If done from cover they won't see you on camera to blame you and most assuredly won't have proof.

A garden hose with a very focused nozzle should also work. Then toss the thing in your neighbors yard. If the owner/operator protests too much he gives away he was in fact doing more than "flying by" and now open to charges from you based on Peeping Tom or similar.

[Blindref757]

While I think there are a few idiots out there spying on girls at the pool, the vast majority of recreational drone pilots are just nerds that like to fly and take cool pictures. I was flying mine this evening and it crash landed in my neighbor's yard (I just got it this week and am learning with my 13 yr old son). I'm sure she's seen this news story floating around the past couple of days but she didn't say anything. I'd hate to think that she thought we had bad intentions.

[ShootDontTalk]

My concern here is that if the message is sent that it is okay to shoot at drones, how long until some idiot cuts loose at one with an AK47 clone and kills someone because they didn't look at what was beyond the target? You know, the thrill of the hunt?

I think a very practical solution might just be to enact ordinances that drones could be flown freely in areas where RC aircraft are flown. You cannot fly a 40-50 pound large scale RC aircraft around houses because they can be lethal weapons if they crash.

I'm not comfortable with restrictions like that, and we certainly don't need more laws, but neither do I think the answer is allowing open season with guns in backyards.

Nor do I think green lasers are the answer. Regardless of how benign you think they are, the reality is that since they are not type-accepted like other equipment that emits radiation (like transceivers) it is well known that most of the lasers sold today which are supposed to be limited to 5mw actually put out as much as 65mw - enough to cause permanent blindness from even scattered radiation, not to speak of direct exposure of an eye. Lasers mishandled can be extremely dangerous. Maybe more so than guns because everyone thinks they're toys.

Anyway, there may actually not be much more discussion about it. As with everything where people cannot use common sense, regulation is probably right around the corner.

[jimlongley]

Let's see, with my yard's dimensions I think I can make room for about an 80 foot tower for my ham radio station. Although I do not have he tower up, if I file plans with the city to place such a structure, does that indicate my intent to use that air space enough to claim it as mine?

And being a future "dronie" (it's on the way, sometime in September) what would happen if I used my drone in the airspace above my property to knock down an "invading" one in "my" airspace?

[loktite]

And being a future "dronie" (it's on the way, sometime in September) what would happen if I used my drone in the airspace above my property to knock down an "invading" one in "my" airspace?

This! Maybe get some flashing lights and 3 second warning, them BAM! Hehe maybe some air-air string confetti or somethinng similar

[jimlongley]

And being a future "dronie" (it's on the way, sometime in September) what would happen if I used my drone in the airspace above my property to knock down an "invading" one in "my" airspace?

This! Maybe get some flashing lights and 3 second warning, them BAM! Hehe maybe some air-air string confetti or somethinng similar

I have been thinking of really bright lights, but also being a techie of sorts, maybe my ham radio station should include a 2.4GHz transceiver with about 1500 watts PEP into a directional antenna. I really have to look up the rules for the wifi frequencies that the drones are using and see if they are on a shared basis. If the drone could be proved to be interfering with my ham radio on a shared (non-interference) frequency, then the FCC gets the call, not the FAA, or if it's not non-interference, then the rules are different.

[suthdj]

Nerf anti - aircraft gun

[misterlarry]

Nice shooting, but personally, I would have used a sling shot.

[DevilDawg]

Finally. A justifiable reason to buy an AR

http://www.xproducts.com/ar-15-soda-can ... s-launcher" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;