Was Alcohol Involved in White House Drone Crash?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a drone crash on the White House grounds, specifically examining the implications of the incident, including the involvement of alcohol by the operator and potential security measures. The scope includes security concerns, regulatory responses, and technological solutions related to drone operations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern about the security implications of a drone crashing on the White House grounds, questioning the adequacy of current defenses.
  • Others speculate on potential regulatory changes regarding drone ownership, suggesting that new laws may emerge in response to incidents like this.
  • A participant mentions that the drone operator, a government worker, was drinking while flying the drone, which raises questions about accountability and operational protocols.
  • Some propose that the White House should be equipped with advanced defense systems, such as surface-to-air missiles or anti-drone laser systems, to prevent future incidents.
  • There are discussions about the feasibility of using smaller drones for surveillance or attacks, highlighting the challenges of defending against such threats.
  • A few participants suggest that the development of drone defense systems could be straightforward, while others argue that the presence of small drones complicates defense strategies.
  • One participant humorously suggests a new term, "DUI," referring to "droning under the influence," in light of the operator's actions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express multiple competing views regarding the implications of the drone crash, the effectiveness of potential security measures, and the regulatory landscape surrounding drone use. The discussion remains unresolved with no consensus on the best course of action or the adequacy of current defenses.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions about drone technology, the effectiveness of proposed defense systems, and the regulatory environment, which are not fully explored or agreed upon.

Borg
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Like the Secret Service needs another headache. :oldeyes:

http://news.yahoo.com/spokesman-secret-recovers-device-white-house-095128139.html

A small drone flying low to the ground crashed onto the White House grounds before dawn Monday, triggering a major emergency response and raising fresh questions about security at the presidential mansion.
 
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Soon there will be a waiting period to buy drones and they will have serial numbers :(
 
phinds said:
Soon there will be a waiting period to buy drones and they will have serial numbers :(
I doubt it. It's too easy to make your own. There are a bunch of do-it-yourself instructions and I know one group that even makes a lot of their parts using 3D printers. I suspect there will be a new government contract for a drone air defense system. :oldtongue:
 
phinds said:
Soon there will be a waiting period to buy drones and they will have serial numbers :(
With surveillance ones it would be problematic, but in case of armed ones you can claim that even minor limitations is a sign of tyranny and violation of second amendment. ;)
 
Czcibor said:
With surveillance ones it would be problematic, but in case of armed ones you can claim that even minor limitations is a sign of tyranny and violation of second amendment. ;)
Something like this?



And, since it's Russian, you can claim that it got lost as it crossed the White House grounds. :w
 
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Government worker who crashed drone on White House grounds was drinking - well he was off duty.
http://news.yahoo.com/drinking-gove...on-white-house-grounds--report-200333999.html
The unidentified man, who works for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), was imbibing while operating the drone that crashed on the White House's South Lawn shortly after 3 a.m. Monday, according to a report.

He lost control of his friend’s two-foot-long craft, called a "quadcopter," at an apartment near 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., officials told The New York Times.
Ooops.
 
I would assume the White House is equipped with surface to air missiles. Designing an anti-drone laser defense system would be pretty straightforward (a low power version of what the Navy is testing).
 
russ_watters said:
I would assume the White House is equipped with surface to air missiles. Designing an anti-drone laser defense system would be pretty straightforward (a low power version of what the Navy is testing).
You wouldn't even need that much explosive power. Something that deployed a good number of M80-sized explosives near the target would probably be enough to knock it out of the air even without a direct hit.

Or, they could deploy the Hawk anti-drone system. :oldtongue:

 
  • #10
With gnat-sized drones swarming though tree branches and gaps in fences, defense would be impossible without endangering the public. Perhaps the solution is to relocate the White House underground?
 
  • #11
I believe there will be changes to come with respect to "quadcopter controls". Though I think it may take an inevitable "attack" of sorts. With fpv flight, on screen gps data, uhf radio controls (even repeaters) and the relatively cheapness & availability & mass production quantities of the equipment I am surprised they have yet to be used to cause "terror" in the US...with near perfect annominity and low cost. How easy it would be to drop flamming bags of poop on peoples porches from a long distance.
 
  • #12
Dotini said:
With gnat-sized drones swarming though tree branches and gaps in fences, defense would be impossible without endangering the public.
Untrue. Anti-insect laser defense systems exist as well. If they ever become commercially viable, I'm buying one for my deck. Safety is a pretty simple targeting software issue, already utilized in such systems.
 
  • #13
Borg said:
Or, they could deploy the Hawk anti-drone system. :oldtongue:
Its been done before, so...
 
  • #14
russ_watters said:
Its been done before, so...
Actually, the more that I thought about it, the more that I liked it. The only thing is prep time to get the bird in the air. They would need a drone early warning system. :oldsmile:
 
  • #15
Borg said:
drone early warning system

A mini DEW line, so to speak.
 
  • #16
Borg said:
Actually, the more that I thought about it, the more that I liked it. The only thing is prep time to get the bird in the air. They would need a drone early warning system. :oldsmile:
They could probably just deploy a squadron, flying CAP continuously, in shifts.
 
  • #17
We have a new meaning for "DUI": droning under the influence. :oldeyes:

Spy drone operator was drinking (CNN.com)

Sources told CNN the man told Secret Service interviewers that he was drinking with friends when he flew the drone.
 

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