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Commercial-Mining Drones Keep Getting Attacked By Eagles (abc.net.au)
An anonymous reader summarizes an article from ABC News:
The world's seventh-biggest gold producer has lost more than nine drones because of eagle attacks. "People couldn't believe I was able to get such a good photo of an eagle airborne," complained surveyor Rick Steven at a conference sponsored by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. "But I didn't... Another eagle took that photo... I was getting attacked by two eagles simultaneously." The specially-constructed drones carry a $10,000 camera for high-resolution photos and equipment that produces high-detail contour maps of potential mining areas, and so far the company estimates they've lost more than $100,000 worth of technology to eagle attacks. They've tried camouflage -- including disguising the drones as another eagle -- but unfortunately, according to Stevens, the eagle is the "natural enemy" of the drone.
One drone's video is interrupted by the sudden appearance of an eagle, followed almost immediately by footage from the ground by a sideways drone camera. That video -- included in the article -- ends with a reminder that "Eagle attacks on drones have been documented across the world, to the point where some European police forces are now training them to take down unauthorized aircraft."
One drone's video is interrupted by the sudden appearance of an eagle, followed almost immediately by footage from the ground by a sideways drone camera. That video -- included in the article -- ends with a reminder that "Eagle attacks on drones have been documented across the world, to the point where some European police forces are now training them to take down unauthorized aircraft."
A friend used to do hang gliding and would have wedge tail eagles either soar with him or attack him. He's had one eagle run it's claws along the leading edge of the glider to try tear it and get him out of the sky.
No worries about getting in trouble using a gun against damn drones over your property, just take up falconry or have a sympathetic neighbor who does
However, implying that the eagles are attacking due to the mining interests possible future actions is ludicrous. Also, mining is necessary to maintain the lifestyle yo enjoy. Otherwise go post on the internet with two sticks and some fur. I am all for protecting the eagles and the environment, but recognize our human needs too. And, I for one think flying a drone over prospect areas is much less intrusive than larger aircraft, and even less negative than slashing a road into a prospect area.
Silence is a state of mime.
After flying RC planes/helicopters/quads for decades you learn that flying above a bird of prey is considered an aggressive dominating move and they will almost always counter to defend their territory and reestablish dominance. If you fly below them like the other smaller birds they consider you prey and rarely attack because you are not their familiar favorite meal.
Me it's RC boats. I live in a city so it's the cheapest, quickest way to get my RC nerdery done. Apparently, for a dog's visual cortex, this:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OdtfMNj...
looks like the most delicious roast chicken a dog could ever want. As soon as I put the boat in the water, every dog around will jump into the water and desperately swim after the stupid thing. Now I warn dog owners before I put the boat in the water!
One day a guy shows up with a Husky. He tells me not to worry, Huskies don't like the water. OK, fine. After he told me he never thought he'd see his dog chest-deep in the water! It was true however that this dog didn't go any further and didn't actually swim for it. But he also didn't expect to have to towel down his dog!
Mostly random stuff.