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Fly Your Own Spy Drone … For $300

George Washington's picture




 

By Washington’s Blog

The Parrot A.R. Drone can be launched and controlled with your iPhone or iPad:

The Parrot A.R. Drone costs $299.

The Parrot A.R. Drone can maintain stable flight at an altitude of up to 20 feet, and a maximum altitude of up to 160 feet.

More sophisticated drones can fly higher and for longer, in a more stable fashion.

For example, protesters in Warsaw used a spy drone last month to see what police were doing. As diydrones.com notes:

People tend to assume that UAVs will be used by the police to keep watch on us, but as ... video, taken by a RoboKopter of riots in Warsaw, shows, they can equally be used by citizens to keep tabs on the police. No need to wait for the local news to send a helicopter to get the aerial scene of a demonstration, just Do It Yourself!

Here is the video of the police shot by the Polish protesters:

 

(Here's what the RoboKopter drone used by the Polish protesters looks like.)

Drones can range from simple:

To advanced:

For more amazing technology, see this and this.

For information on building your own drone, start here.

Disclaimer: We don't know whether there are any Department of Homeland Security, FAA or other regulations or laws prohibiting flying your own spy drone. Consult with a representative of all appropriate Federal, state, county and local agencies to determine whether or not you may fly your own drone.

 

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Fri, 12/30/2011 - 15:28 | 2022230 dcb
dcb's picture

according to the muslim terrorist handbook you can load them with amonium nitrate fertilizer and make a flying explosive. I really don't know why someone would get arrested for that, as it would baack the explosive puch of a firecrhacker or something. But from this post, and how it could help terrorists, I think GW needs to be detained without trial. I'll bet he also supports environmental causes. George if I were you I'd go on the lamb very fast.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 20:51 | 2022952 George Washington
George Washington's picture

I hate Muslim terrorists.

Sat, 12/31/2011 - 10:40 | 2023502 dcb
dcb's picture

I didn't intend it to be a comment that you did, it really was a comment on how they can just lock you up for anything wthout trial when you are just using your first amendment rights. for some maybe the post could be considered support for terroist activities. Maybe hot Holder, but for Cheney for sure.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 15:23 | 2022219 dcb
dcb's picture

OK george, not sure why you can't get a remote controlled helicopter at the local radio shack, and maybe put a cheap web cam device on it and see about sending the images  via wi-fi or something like that

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 15:00 | 2022154 sgt_doom
sgt_doom's picture

Fantastic post, GW!

But aren't you a bit afraid you might give people the idea about purchasing, or rolling their own, drones and adding a bit of Semtex - with blasting caps rigged for detonation -- and fly one into a BoD of Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, BofA, Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, Bain Capital, Frist Capital, KKR, etc.??

Just asking.....

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 20:53 | 2022958 George Washington
George Washington's picture

no... that frankly never occurred to me. This post solely focuses on using cameras.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 20:56 | 2022966 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

your response conveys a sense of cold sweat breaking out together with the small hair on the neck rising...

relax, GW, this idea is not new and you won't go into history books as the inventor of the TerrorDrone

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 11:37 | 2021622 Fox-Scully
Fox-Scully's picture

There is now a market developing for tiny surface-to-air missles as part of your backyard defense

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 11:02 | 2021512 Agent P
Agent P's picture

Drone is such a spooky word.  I doubt this article would have gotten much attention if it were titled "Fly your own RC helicopter..."  This type of tech is nothing new.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 12:09 | 2021703 Lucky Guesst
Lucky Guesst's picture

Forward and downward camaras that can be viewed split screen in real time on your phone is different than removing the memory card and uploading to a pc to view the video. Also it doesnt crash because it has 4 blades going at once. 150 feet up instead of 100. Also the body snaps off and you can insert the motor inside another shell for about $30 or $40 I think if it gets damaged. Same only way better.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 16:01 | 2022307 Agent P
Agent P's picture

Most of what you listed is due to advances in mobile phone technology, not RC aircraft. 

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 10:32 | 2021434 Lucky Guesst
Lucky Guesst's picture

It works with any android phone as well. Or at least that is what the sales guy told me. We almost got it for my son for christmas but we came across it too late and had already bought to many other gifts and weren't looking in the $300 range by then. Thinking about getting it for his birthday in feb.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 09:26 | 2021309 Mercury
Mercury's picture

Enjoy the 15 minutes.  Aerial RC hobbyists will soon be a thing of the past:

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/29/analysis-model-planes-as-weapons-of-terror/

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 10:19 | 2021400 whstlblwr
whstlblwr's picture

Right, give up freedom for fear. Who has won?

So read the drudge report and realize all Paul coverage is full of shit. I actually think Romney gaining ground until we watch raw CSPAN footage last night.

Fuck you status quo. Keep calling Paul nutty and make yourself the fool. It's already started many people don't trust mainstream news, and we need new reporters who are not bought and paid for. Unemployed? Take your phone, take pictures take interview, start accurate news.

Watch this great radio/CSPAN he did in Iowa. Ron Paul is not a nut and is doing better than ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8UOSck8tP0&feature=youtu.be

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 13:29 | 2021945 dexter_morgan
Fri, 12/30/2011 - 08:04 | 2021202 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

I know some guys locally who have built R/C modelers with .22 cal MG on them and tested them at Ft Bragg for the Army Test Board (presumably). You put up a local wireless WAN for control and off they go.

 

http://rotomotion.com/

A local Guard unit used them in an FTX last year.

 

kewl.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 05:47 | 2021164 Setarcos
Setarcos's picture

WTF our species has become insane.

Bring on WW3 and the total, global disaster of Fuckyoushima.

Maybe there are other planets in the universe able to support life-forms.

If so, I hope that another species does a better job of looking after things than our species has done on our planet.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 05:21 | 2021148 css1971
css1971's picture

Replace the rotors with a bag of hydrogen and you can stay up for days.

 

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 01:42 | 2021068 nah
nah's picture

was reading tickerguy and how white collar crime is covered under a shroud

.

of fbi nostagia

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 01:11 | 2021044 nah
nah's picture

robots bitchez

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 00:45 | 2021028 Melville1977
Melville1977's picture

Do they make them smaller? I want to fly one into the womens locker room of my local gym : ) LOL.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 00:27 | 2021012 Shineola
Shineola's picture

So....how much ordnance will they carry? 

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 23:35 | 2020953 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

I think this was originally designed for looking over the fence to watch your neighbor's wife sunbathing.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 05:22 | 2021149 steveo
steveo's picture

Indeed thanks for the art!

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 00:13 | 2021001 Cistercian
Cistercian's picture

No...thats what step ladders are for William.

 Thanks for your art btw my friend.

 I hope things are well for you. Best wishes and happy new year!!!

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 23:20 | 2020926 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

I've been flying these for a few years now.  They're fun.  We can take them up the sides of a tall building and stare in the windows.  People never notice them.  They are pretty stabe camera platforms.  Sevral Hollywood movies have used them to obtain impossible shots such as moving down a hallway following a character and then soaring out and around off of a dropoff for a scary angle view.  We seldom got over 10 minutes with our six rotor units even with the big A123 batteries.  Warning.  If you're going to do a lot of flying buy lot of spare parts.

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 23:44 | 2020968 Long-John-Silver
Long-John-Silver's picture

Switch to 18650 batteries. They fit in the same space as 2 A123 batteries inserted in a tube end to end and are the same voltage.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-protected-18650-lithium-battery-2...

 

You'll need a special charger for them due to the protection circuit installed in each battery. This one will also recharge CR-123A too.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-3-6-3-7v-battery-charger-1251

 

You'll probably need holders for them.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-7v-1-x-18650-battery-holder-case-box-with...

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/7-4v-2-x-18650-battery-holder-case-box-with...

 

The only thing I don't like about these batteries is they give you zero low battery warning. They give smooth stable power right up to the low limit and then the protection circuit cuts the power off and the device dies immediately.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 12:25 | 2021738 Gene Parmesan
Gene Parmesan's picture

They'll fit in the same length tube, but I believe the 18650s are wider, no?

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 05:44 | 2021160 steveo
steveo's picture

cool bought all that stuff and drone

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 22:56 | 2020833 TSA gropee
TSA gropee's picture

Anything can be countered.

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 06:30 | 2021174 Geruda
Geruda's picture

To be saying "Anything can be countered" is to be having a bad arguing.   If a people is saying to you it is being dangerous to be having a bullet shooting from a gun and you are saying a bullet is having a way to be countered it is not having any sense for you to be saying that.  To be using a word "can" is to be using a word what is meaning an infinity of possible things to be happening.  You are choosing one of many things to be having the sound that one thing means no other thing.  

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 21:00 | 2020731 Ranger4564
Ranger4564's picture

GW, I wrote exactly that to some in the OWS group. I thought that if the politzai will arrest people who are taking pictures, maybe the better approach was to detach the photographer from the camera.  I actually recommended we develop our own in house devices, to continue research, but i did recommend the Parrot as the initial model to work with given its flexibility, and low cost.  I think civilians need a counterparty to the police / military, in all areas.  We don't need weapons however, we civilians need devices which nullify weapons.

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 22:29 | 2020825 trav7777
trav7777's picture

but can these drones launch HellFire missiles?

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 01:46 | 2021070 swoop72
swoop72's picture

not yet. they were nice enough to show us the way. i just did a matrix quadrilogy too.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJbtgKB3nok&feature=related

equally impressive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNZPRsrwumQ&feature=related

and for the coup de grâce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzjkBwZtxp4&feature=related

he might as well be playing Tapps

 

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 22:40 | 2020848 Cistercian
Cistercian's picture

Let me know as soon as you get a shipment of hellfires......assclown.

 

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 20:29 | 2020700 BidnessMan
BidnessMan's picture

Got my Parrot A.R Drone just before Christmas and it is a hoot.  Battery life is only about 5 minutes, and a good breeze carries it away, but awsome picture quality from the Parrot videocam over WiFi to my iPhone as it buzzes around the office.  Battery life will always be a challenge, but it really works. Takes off and hovers at 3 feet at the press of button on the iPhone screen, and ultrasound sensor on the bottom to automatically land at the press of the same button.  Designed and sold by a French company, and my hat is off to the frogs on this one.  Lots of technology for $299 retail.  The days of $100M manned fighter jets are numbered. 

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 20:16 | 2020674 Eric L. Prentis
Eric L. Prentis's picture

Do not miss these amazing videos referenced in the article:

Game Changing 3-Dimension Printing Technology videos in physical products, autos, buildings, but especially in printing replacement parts for the human body. Click on this first and then this below (for driving an automobile, only with the human brain):

"For more amazing technology, see this and this."

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 20:24 | 2020687 youLilQuantFuker
youLilQuantFuker's picture

https://www.google.com/search?q=%E2%80%9Cquadrocopter%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9Cmikrocopter%E2%80%9D&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&source=hp&q=quadrocopter+OR+mikrokopter+OR+mikrocopter+OR+microcopter&pbx=1&oq=quadrocopter+OR+mikrokopter+OR+mikrocopter+OR+microcopter&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=18l9723l2l10122l13l10l2l0l0l1l270l2017l0.4.6l12l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=d7e744fa241f46c0&biw=1024&bih=578

Fucks up with this trap?

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 20:47 | 2020718 George Washington
George Washington's picture

Sorry, I know it is poor netiquette to link to a Google search, but it yields 6,740,000 results, and anyone looking to buy a hobby craft can find something interesting there...

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 08:35 | 2021201 youLilQuantFuker
youLilQuantFuker's picture

https://www.google.com/search?q=georgie+porgie+youtube+HriAZFHlEh4&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=18l9723l2l10122l13l10l2l0l0l1l270l2017l0.4.6l12l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=d7e744fa241f46c0&biw=1024&bih=578

Georgie Porgie pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry
When the boys came out to play,
Georgie Porgie ran away.

When he saw what he had done,
An anonymous participate gave him 41.

I pitty the fool who seeks my certificate

A proper search looks like this:
http://www.google.com/search?q=weather+langley+va

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 19:44 | 2020634 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

That's what we need, fleets of anti-drone drones.

The People need to start working on how to defeat the domestic drones that will be used for oppression.

Heck, if Iran can do it patriots should be able to as well, eh?

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 23:18 | 2020919 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Eventually SkyNet will be turned on us.  Maybe Ron Paul will win and we have a shot at getting the country back - but i doubt it.

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 22:30 | 2020827 trav7777
trav7777's picture

homemade heat seekers?  Seriously, to drop a military drone, without a missile or haxxoring the thing, you've not got much of a chance.

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 19:16 | 2020597 gwar5
gwar5's picture

I checkd some similar models out last week for kicks. Very cool. Get 'er done.

 

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 19:31 | 2020583 grunk
grunk's picture

I smell FAA licensing! Background checks.

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 19:02 | 2020575 High Plains Drifter
High Plains Drifter's picture

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/19/us-drone-pilots-stress-idUSTRE7BI24N20111219

 

poor babies are all getting all stressed out...........aw, isn't that awful. its getting bad when you can't even sit at a computer screen thousands of miles away and launch an attack on some innocent people and not get stressed out about it............aw...........what a shame.........

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 18:57 | 2020568 High Plains Drifter
High Plains Drifter's picture

double time ..........march............maybe those donut eaters need to do some running  one way,  and while they are busy its time for molotovs on the fuzzy vans..........i bet they come running back..................

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 18:52 | 2020561 PulauHantu29
PulauHantu29's picture

Radio Shack is supposedly coming out with "Detecto-Drone" next month. Supposedly it will enable you to detect a drone over yoru airspace up to 20,000 feet. Very popular item....selling like hotcakes on the Middle East Ebay's ....

The best part of buy two get 50% off the third!

lol

Fri, 12/30/2011 - 03:02 | 2021102 swoop72
swoop72's picture

the only page google found for "Detecto-Drone" was this,

http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/fly-your-own-spy-drone-%E2%80%A6-300

i cant find it on the radio shack site either. is it radioshack.uk by chance?

 

 

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