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+--- Thread: Why no drones? (/showthread.php?tid=14625)
RE: Why no drones? - pahoated - 09-20-2014
Really wish the stupid media would stop calling them drones. They are unmanned aircraft systems or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). There are multiple regulations against them, not just from the FAA. The FAA limits them to 400 feet altitude and only line of sight for personal use. They are also illegal at airports.
https://www.faa.gov/uas/
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The National Park service has banned them.
http://news.yahoo.com/drones-banned-us-national-parks-130432721.html
Drones Banned from All US National Parks
One reason they are not being widely used yet is these commercial quadcopters have a flight time of about 15 minutes and their effective range is about 1 kilometer with no license RF (it's all RF, cell phones, bluetooth, wifi, etc) and the RF regulations come under the FCC.
UHH has a program started to start public agency use of UAV but it got its funding cut by half. The hobby craft are going to have limited range and operating time. Once there is a full UAV program going, then more military grade systems can be deployed. This one has the range and operating time (over 10,000 feet altitude, over 40 minutes flight time, surveillance and sensor payload, over 5 miles range). No audio in this video, it makes a racket because it is powered by gas engine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSqvc226ojU
"We come in peace!" - First thing said by missionaries and extraterrestrials
RE: Why no drones? - punafish - 09-20-2014
I could have titled this thread "Why no AUVs?" but only Ted and a handful of people would have known what I was talking about. Damn media.
RE: Why no drones? - mella l - 09-20-2014
Drones are quieter and can be directed from office space. Drones just don't carry tourists, use much gasonline or cost huge amounts of dollars. Ah they are not as fun to fly as a helicopter more like a challenging video game.
mella l
Art and Science Our Future
bytheSEA
RE: Why no drones? - pahoated - 09-20-2014
quote:
Originally posted by punafish
I could have titled this thread "Why no AUVs?" but only Ted and a handful of people would have known what I was talking about. Damn media.
AUV is Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, nice try but no cigar. The reason this dumbed down media popularized use of the word drone is just idiotically wrong because a drone has a specific function, to be a target. That is not what you want a UAV unmanned aerial vehicle to be.
"We come in peace!" - First thing said by missionaries and extraterrestrials
RE: Why no drones? - punafish - 09-20-2014
I stand corrected, I transposed my letters!
Appreciate the drone information, interesting how language evolves and how much the media has a hand in it. Sadly it looks like the word "drone" has stuck, damn media.
The lava should be within drone range soon enough.
RE: Why no drones? - dakine - 09-21-2014
I would think there has been successful viewing of lava flows close up with UAVs.. though the attempts I know of have failed.. and ended in tragedy. Crashed into the flow. The two birds I saw go down both went quick. One second all is go the next the thing crashes. Both times believed to be because of wind turbulence as the UAV got close to the heat of the flow and even though they were on site in both instances the operator was unable to adjust for things in a timely manner.
Helicopters are like cars, the operator can 'feel' their environment and react instantly. Remote operators can only see and here. I would think that in dynamic situations like the airmass next to a lava flow that extra sense of actually being there and feeling the forces at work on the machine could be a critical component to a successful mission.
In the current situation I think something a bit lower tech would do great. It needs to be in the air, but what about tethering a blimp or some sort of weather ballon to some point (the transfer station.. the community center) and hang a few cameras on that.. could lower a wire or go wireless.. and put it on the net 24/7. We'd all get to see.. and it would put Pahoa on the world map because people from all over the world would be looking. As an example I have been watching a volcanic eruption that's ongoing in Iceland streaming to my computer 24/7 for the last week and that feed is being provided by the telecommunications company in Iceland.. not the scientist or government. Just my thoughts and observations.
RE: Why no drones? - Wao nahele kane - 09-21-2014
Anyone here know the maximum elevation for 24hr tethered balloons? We have a good vantage point but need some more elevation to get the entirety of the rift from down here in Waa Waa. From the roof deck atop a 12' ladder I can see the whole rift line. It might be worth it to run a webcam if I can get up another 50' or so. As it is just standing up there, I can see the pu'u o'o crater rim but not the base because of more nearby trees.
RE: Why no drones? - leilanidude - 09-21-2014
http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/part101.html
That may be a good starting point.
Some pertinent parts:
101.15 Notice requirements.
No person may operate an unshielded moored balloon or kite more than
150 feet above the surface of the earth unless, at least 24 hours
before beginning the operation, he gives the following information to
the FAA ATC facility that is nearest to the place of intended
operation:
(a) The names and addresses of the owners and operators.
(b) The size of the balloon or the size and weight of the kite.
© The location of the operation.
(d) The height above the surface of the earth at which the balloon
or kite is to be operated.
(e) The date, time, and duration of the operation.
101.17 Lighting and marking requirements.
(a) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite, between sunset
and sunrise unless the balloon or kite, and its mooring lines, are
lighted so as to give a visual warning equal to that required for
obstructions to air navigation in the FAA publication "Obstruction
Marking and Lighting" .
(b) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite between sunrise
and sunset unless its mooring lines have colored pennants or
streamers attached at not more than 50 foot intervals beginning at
150 feet above the surface of the earth and visible for at least
one mile.
RE: Why no drones? - kalakoa - 09-22-2014
Does anyone know how much the county would save by switching to drones?
Zero: if the drone costs 10% of a helicoper flight, "they" will simply fly 10x as many drones.
If you think Green Harvest is annoying today, well....
RE: Why no drones? - Wao nahele kane - 09-22-2014
Kalakoa,
Good point. Lol
Leilanidude,
That pretty much sums it up. 150' would suffice for an overall elevation of 270' above sea level. Not sure how well it would show the flows seeing as how they will average of 800'-900' elevation but it should make for a somewhat interesting perspective with some outline of the flow region. Will stuff it in my things to consider folder.