Police seize drone over Wimbledon Tennis area.

[Hangarshuffle]

First one I've ever read about in UK being nicked by Police (sort of).
Police pulled a chap who was flying one about over the tennis courts.
Police seize Wimbledon drone as security tightens after terror attacks | UK news | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/27/police-tighten-wimbledon-security-after-terrorist-attacks)


Police are right to be jumpy about this sort of thing now. Eventually, does not just about every sort of new machine become a weapon in the end?
I'm guessing the drone and its master here were both pretty entirely innocent, in this case. Just a sports fan, or press? But we are seeing the future here and now-soon drones flying about will be very commonplace. Transporting stuff, couriers, live news feeds, traffic feeds, survey work-all sorts of pleasure and commercial - its right upon us and quickly to.
As regards national security, have the old bill pushed the RAF out of the way on this then? In regards defence? Can you even realistically defend people on the ground from drone intrusion?
Can you jam out the signal to a drone being used? In the manner you can jam mobile phones etc? We probably already are.
I know Prunes done drone threads before, I just think they will be some much of a part of our future lives, like cars and phones, for better or worse.
RAF Drone Defence Force. Send for the DDF....RAFDDF..hmmmm..work in progress.
RAFADAF....maybe.

[ShyTorque]

There is an RA(T) notified for Wimbledon, but it doesn't come into force until Monday.

[barnstormer1968]

With the low cost of remote drones with gimbal cameras the uses for crime or terrorism are almost endless.

Many years ago a local major criminal employed microlights to monitor police activity and responses to crimes. These days a few remote quad copters could do the same, give real time images as well as being harder to detect from the ground.

A quad copter over Wimbledon may just be taking pics (but not innocently given the times we live in) but could just as easliy drop something nasty over the court or crowd.

[Herod]

To my mind the police acted rightly. Wimbledon is a high-profile event, and security must be in everyone's mind now.

[glad rag]

Not a lot to be said really, those who would eliminate our way of life will enjoy reading about this.

[Courtney Mil]

A quad copter over Wimbledon may just be taking pics (but not innocently given the times we live in) but could just as easliy drop something nasty over the court or crowd.

I wonder what "something nasty" you're thinking about? What sort of payload do you imagine a €1.000 quad copter can carry?

I'm seriously not having a go, I am truly interested in this.

[NutLoose]

With the low cost of remote drones with gimbal cameras the uses for crime or terrorism are almost endless.

Many years ago a local major criminal employed microlights to monitor police activity and responses to crimes. These days a few remote quad copters could do the same, give real time images as well as being harder to detect from the ground.

A quad copter over Wimbledon may just be taking pics (but not innocently given the times we live in) but could just as easliy drop something nasty over the court or crowd.

They also used to use the web and satellite views of the Home Counties for the give away signs of lead roofs to steal, i.e. green verdigris staining.

[barnstormer1968]

CM
I'll pm you just in case anyone else thinks I've thought of something new :)

[NutLoose]

I would imagine it dropping a dozen tennis balls might cause havoc on centre court.

[Lordflasheart]

There are very specific and readily available (even to amateur joe public) legal requirements for the operating of every kind of drone in the UK, and for very good reasons. If he/she was legal or licensed, as appropriate or applicable - he/she should have no problem. If he/she wasn't legal or licensed, he/she was rightly nicked and hopefully will face the consequences so as to discourage all the other drone law/rule breakers, whatever they (or anyone else) might offer as their intentions or excuses. ......... LFH

[Rick777]

I'm guessing he was just trying to get footage of the tennis match. Whoever had the broadcast rights probably not happy about unauthorized use.

[DeafOldFart]

Have you seen the hoops that have to be jumped through to qualify as a drone operator??!!
Costs more than the NPPL!!
Years ago, I was an Examiner in the model aircraft proficiency scheme, and should in theory have some insight into responsible RPV activity...
Crashing models is easier now, because they are purchased instead of constructed. Idiots with credit cards can cause damage and injury.
Remote control missiles have been in action for many years, the big difference is the video data link.
Hate to say it, but the Easyjet flights over my house are well within range of a powerful fast climbing model aircraft... with a camera, there's choice of cockpit or engine impact. Could lift a 20mm shell as well.
I'm one of the good guys...

[P6 Driver]

I can't work out the Military Aviation aspect to this - what am I missing?

[NutLoose]

The security employed for the Wimbledon week are servicemen and women...... Tenuous I know :O

[P6 Driver]

Fair enough - I knew there would be a connection, but I'm having a slow day!
:)

[RedhillPhil]

They also used to use the web and satellite views of the Home Counties for the give away signs of lead roofs to steal, i.e. green verdigris staining.


Green verdigris staining....copper surely? Lead just turns, well, lead colour.

[Hangarshuffle]

Is it classed as an aviation threat? The police are running the show but if the attack will come from the sky, is it not an RAF responsibility to defend from? Its their level of expertise? They did alright in the past with this sort of thing. I just think there's an overlap of responsibility which generally means there will be a weakness to be exploited by others who wish our people harm.
Its a depressing subject I concede. But it does interest me, very much so after I observed two expert chaps flying one near a private stately castle grounds I sometimes frequent. Well controlled, powerful, could climb to a good height and hover still.. until you've seen a proper drone working...I for one had no idea how good they were.
I think in the future terrorists will use them with small anti personnel mines attached and surprise ambush specific high value targets, and my guess is some sort of disabler or jammer will have to be used to interfere with the control signal. And the easiest and best way to bring one down as a last resort will be with powerful automatic fire shotguns with the largest shot SSG/AAA size maybe?
And the RAF should do this based on intelligence received, be given the responsibility because they are the experts, not the Police (who have enough to do, and sometimes lapse when using weaponry -its not their job-I reject the present armed police Robocop look).
And if I'm thinking about this now then the others will have thought it through about 12 or 13 years before me. Just hope our side are up to speed that's all.

[Flying Binghi]

Heh... in Israel they dont like 'unknown' drones at all. They send up the fighter jets and even use Patriot missile batteries to shoot em down... :cool:

Probably be the way it goes in Pomy land. Patriot battery in the wimbliton car park...

"Suspected Hamas UAV causes IAF to scramble jets..."

Gaza drone crashes in Israel - Israel News, Ynetnews (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4672863,00.html)












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[Bevo]

Probably be the way it goes in Pomy land. Patriot battery in the wimbliton car park....

Old technology. This is the way to go:

US Navy reveals boat mounted laser that can shoot down drones, boats and even doubles as a 'Hubble telescope on the water' laser surveillance system - and it is ALREADY in use

- 30 kW laser integrates six commercial 5.4 kW fibre lasers into one beam
- Controlled using a video game controller by a single operator
- System can also be used as a long range laser surveillance scanner
- USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf given go ahead to defend itself with weapon
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2868925/US-Navy-reveals-boat-mounted-laser-shoot-drones-boats-doubles-hubble-water-laser-surveillance-use.html)

[Heathrow Harry]

"Have you seen the hoops that have to be jumped through to qualify as a drone operator??!!"

butthae cat is out of the bag on drones - anyone can buy themwithout any qualifications

Now if the Govt made Amazon or whoever responsible for any costs incurred in any case involving drones...

but no dount m'learned friends woud get them off...............

[Flying Binghi]

via Hangershuffle #17:
...after I observed two expert chaps flying one near a private stately castle grounds I sometimes frequent. Well controlled, powerful, could climb to a good height and hover still.. until you've seen a proper drone working...I for one had no idea how good they were...

Allah be praised... :hmm: here's the latest tech from the toy shop...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r2WmLlTzQeM










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[Flying Binghi]

via Bevo #19:

...Old technology. This is the way to go:...

Certainly a beautiful bit of kit. Looks like it works well over the deep blue where the only thing is the 'threat' and a lot of water. Unless the beam can be distance focused I wonder how well it will perform in the Wimbyton environment ?

((Edit to ad: Looks like others are taking the mini drone threat very seriously...
In May 2015, MBDA Deutschland deployed a laser effector to acquire, track, and defeat a free-flying mini drone, the first time such technology has been used to this effect. The mini drone was destroyed within seconds of the start of the test which was carried out at MBDA Deutschland’s testing area in Schrobenhausen. The drone in question manoeuvred in the target area at a range of about 500m with the test proving the laser effector's capability to combat realistic targets with precision, speed and safety.
http://www.mbda-systems.com/mediagallery/#/news/3511 ))

Imagine a scenario of multiple terrorist drones attacking Wimbulton all at the same time, flying about six feet off the ground... several across the Park, one along Newstead way, one along Bathgate road, one or more along Church road, a couple along Somerset road...


There is other tech available if the drones are under direct human guidence:

Neutralization of malicious drones: ECA Group is innovating and validates a unique technology to locate drone operators | Eca Group (http://www.ecagroup.com/en/financial/neutralization-malicious-drones-eca-group-innovating-and-validates-unique-technology)



I see this civvy has strayed into a Military forum. Hat, coat...:)







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[Art Smass]

Drones could become the clay pigeons of the 21st century:E

[NutLoose]

Or the starwars style transport of the future..

US military to develop Star Wars-style hoverbikes with British company | Technology | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jun/23/hoverbike-us-military-star-wars)

http://www.hover-bike.com/MA/the-hoverbike/how-you-can-own-it/

http://www.hover-bike.com/MA/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_0627.jpg




Would it be exempt road tax?

[The Helpful Stacker]

Would it be exempt road tax?

Road tax hasn't existed since 1937.

[NutLoose]

Who mentioned the UK? :rolleyes:

[MG23]

Now if the Govt made Amazon or whoever responsible for any costs incurred in any case involving drones...

The bad guys would import them from China, or build them in their bedroom.

It's not as though these kind of drones are complex devices that only megacorps can build. Mine's a few pieces of plastic with a camera, some motors, a battery, and an ARM chip, knocked together by some company in China.

[Pontius Navigator]

I read a novel recently where drones were employed in an assault on the Eifel Tower.

They were used for reconnaissance and payload delivery. For instance metal detectors could be evaded with delivery "over the fence".

It was in a novel but you can easily imagine other uses.

D2D ACM anyone?

[NutLoose]

Like this PN?


Update: Russians capture cigarette-smuggling drone | Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/russians-capture-cigarette-smuggling-drone/)

[CoffmanStarter]

I'll gladly help with a spot of Air Defence work ...

http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2012/2/16/1329389485979/CLAY-PIGEON-SHOOTING--007.jpg

[Pontius Navigator]

NL, no the novel used the quadrocopters but same principle with the bad guys being ever more inventive than officials working inside the box.

Make it a law that all drones have inbuilt trackers or destructors. Fly over the perimeter and it destructs, though I like the idea of a laser fence.