Drones Down Down Under

[clareprop]

I was going to put this in Accidents and Close Calls

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/clyppgdl3xwo

[MechEngr]

Eventually AI will be involved and, with a newly found survival instinct, the Collective, as the drone swarm calls itself, will go after the person responsible for this disaster.

So say we all.

[PiperCameron]

Originally Posted by MechEngr

Eventually AI will be involved and, with a newly found survival instinct, the Collective, as the drone swarm calls itself, will go after the person responsible for this disaster.

So say we all.

We can but hope!

[KRviator]

Did better than Melbourne. They had 427 out of 500 drones go for a swim a few years ago.

[thunderbird five]

Is there ever an ATSB or CASA investigation into these drones falling from the sky at public events?
Or is it "nothing to see here, just open your umbrellas, move along."

[MechEngr]

To an extent the problems are self-correcting as the operator has a huge motive to stay in business by not attempting to bomb the people who come to watch and also to not watch the fleet destroy itself; there may also be financial considerations about failing to produce the show In a safe manner. On top of that the drone manufacturers also see the hazards to the sales of having such foulups.

The risk incurred is more like that for fireworks shows, events which use explosives in visual proximity to the audience and likewise the safety of the event depends far more on pre-show programming and setup than the reliability of the aircraft. I think drone shows should follow a safety model more similar to fireworks automation than to an airshow with human pilots.

[PiperCameron]

Originally Posted by thunderbird five

Is there ever an ATSB or CASA investigation into these drones falling from the sky at public events?

You mean like this one??: https://www.atsb.gov.au/investigations/ao-2026-080

Yes.

[Roy Nolland]

So what is the rate for a commercial diver to do a bottom search and recover all the drones on the seabed?

[jolihokistix]

Could the software have a Huawei-style back door, I wonder?

[MechEngr]

This is more typical:

21 May 2024 UAS SkyMagic X258 Near Goole, Yorkshire A swarm of 500 drones were being operated to practice for a display. One of the UAs experienced a motor failure and fell to the ground away from the operators.

https://www.atsb.gov.au/investigations/ao-2026-080

It is odd to see "foam model aircraft" is a government concern.

[Squawk7700]

Originally Posted by thunderbird five

Is there ever an ATSB or CASA investigation into these drones falling from the sky at public events?
Or is it "nothing to see here, just open your umbrellas, move along."

They get the royal treatment, more-so than Raaus aircraft where people actually died.

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by thunderbird five

Is there ever an ATSB or CASA investigation into these drones falling from the sky at public events?
Or is it "nothing to see here, just open your umbrellas, move along."

The ATSB report into the Melbourne drone swarm failure in July 2023 is at:

https://www.atsb.gov.au/investigations/ao-2023-033

The investigation uncovered the cause of that incident, being operation of the drones in wind conditions in excess of their limits.

Recommendations made and lessons were apparently learned by the operator and drone manufacturer.

Divers recovered some, but far from all the drones that 'ditched' into the Yarra.

It appears ATSB regularly use "RPA" (remotely piloted aircraft) in the title of reports into drone / UAS / UAV incidents so it is possible to search their database to find other examples of such investigations.

[PiperCameron]

Originally Posted by helispotter

Divers recovered some, but far from all the drones that 'ditched' into the Yarra.

It's all good.. They'll get washed up on St Kilda Beach eventually.

[MickG0105]

Originally Posted by jolihokistix

Could the software have a Huawei-style back door, I wonder?

If so, it doesn't appear to discriminate on the basis of nationality. Here's the "Sound of Blooming Flowers" drone and fireworks display/disaster over Liuyang, China from October last year.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=906306148393417

You Tube

[MechEngr]

This is similar to what the Chinese failure was supposed to produce:

You Tube

new chapter in aerial spectacle! ✨ We are thrilled to witness Liuyang, the global fireworks capital, officially set a Guinness World Record with a breathtaking display of 15,947 synchronized drones. ​​​​​​​