Star Wars Producers Want a 'DroneShield' To Prevent Leaks On Set

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Star Wars Producers Want a 'DroneShield' To Prevent Leaks On Set

Posted by timothy on Saturday September 20, 2014 @04:21AM from the from-here-they-look-like-ants dept.

Jason Koebler writes Over the last couple of weeks, people have been flying drones over Pinewood Studios, where Star Wars Episode VII is being filmed. That made waves last week, but, perhaps most interestingly, the studio ordered a "DroneShield" back in June anticipating the drone problem. According to the company, a DroneShield can provide email and SMS warnings if it detects a helicopters or drone. In any case, the folks over at DroneShield say that Pinewood Studios never actually got the product: The State Department keeps close tabs on products like these that are shipped overseas, and the company's export application still hasn't gone through.

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The Drone Wars by PvtVoid · 2014-09-20 04:43 · Score: 5, Funny

Begun they have.
Obvious solution ... by BarbaraHudson · 2014-09-20 04:45 · Score: 2

"Send in the drones!" Why not fight drones with drones? Cheaper than a stupid "drone shield" that sends you a text, probably without enough time to do anything.
Throw in a few old-tech barrage balloons (even weather balloons will do) trailing netting (even helicopters will avoid that), some really high-powered water and potato cannons, and the odd trebuchet filled with flaming dung or politicians (same diff), and "The Making of Star Wars Episode VII" becomes more than just filler.

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White House by John+Jorsett · 2014-09-20 04:56 · Score: 2

This makes me wonder how the White House and other high-profile government locations' security staffs deal with this issue. It's got to be a problem there as well, probably moreso as a drone could be armed, not just doing movie set recon. I have to think that there must have been recent incidents, but I've not seen any news accounts.
1. Re:White House by Animats · 2014-09-20 07:22 · Score: 2
  
  the US Government use UCAVs to keep the airspace around DC clear.
  
  Actually, the current response to airspace incursions in the DC area is an F-16 and a Coast Guard helicopter. The F-16 is in case it turns out to be hostile, and the Coast Guard helicopter is for the usual case, which is a clueless VFR pilot who needs directions. This happens several times a week. The FAA now insists that all pilots operating within 60 miles of DC (actually 60NM of the DCA VOR) take this online course. Amazingly, there are still clueless pilots wandering into this airspace, although fewer than a few years ago.
Re:Surely by _Shad0w_ · 2014-09-20 04:59 · Score: 2

I doubt it's that easy to get restricted airspace put in place. Also jamming devices are generally illegal in the UK (punishable by a two year prison term and/or an unlimited fine).

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*waves hand* by TeknoHog · 2014-09-20 05:16 · Score: 3, Funny

These aren't the drones you're looking for.

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1. Re:*waves hand* by Livius · 2014-09-20 06:29 · Score: 2
  
  Actually, these are the drones the producers are looking for. But the stormtroopers are incapable of hitting anything.
Re:Why not stronger punishments for... by bmo · 2014-09-20 05:21 · Score: 2

all of this media that has already ruined the next Star Wars movie.
The only thing that has ruined a Star Wars movie is George Lucas.
http://redlettermedia.com/plin... - the best ever deconstructions of Star Wars that are more entertaining than those movies ever were.
Watch and learn, Grasshopper.
For a shorter version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
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BMO
British problem. British solution. by SuricouRaven · 2014-09-20 05:27 · Score: 2

Barrage balloons. String some blimps up on cables around the property, hang nets from the cables. It's legal, passive, safe - and only the most skilled of drone pilots could reliably navigate the maze without getting their rotors tangled. Plus the studio gets some free drones - somehow I don't imagine many of the pilots will be asking for their return.
Re:Simple, politically incorrect solution by RobertLTux · 2014-09-20 05:38 · Score: 2

So get the local group of "merry men" to have some fun with LongBows.

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Easy DroneShield countermeasure by Molt · 2014-09-20 05:59 · Score: 4, Funny

"These are not the drones you are looking for.."

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404 Not Found: No such file or resource as '.sig'
Re:Surely by YrWrstNtmr · 2014-09-20 06:39 · Score: 2

Which leads to the current misconception of the word 'drone'. It seems, currently, anything that does not look like a traditional RC airplane (Cessna 172) is called a 'drone'. No matter how it is guided.
Re:get online jobs by TomR+teh+Pirate · 2014-09-20 08:38 · Score: 2

Posting to message boards is costing you time when instead you too could be making $85 / hour. Stupid bots.
Who cares.... seriously. by seanvaandering · 2014-09-20 16:45 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'm somewhat a Star Wars fan... and I'm like most people - I may have a passing curiosity on the developments in the movie, and might click a link here and there, but for the most part, I don't really care about every little inner workings of the movie, which is still very much in development. Even if I saw a X-Wing fighter.. and gasped that there will be X-Wing fighters in the movie... it doesn't really mean anything at this point because no one really knows the whole storyboard and plot of the movie. If anything these drones are giving the movie additional free advertising that can't be bought, but if you think this in any way will spoil the movie when it's released is ludicrous at best.