DRONE SKIRMISHES
Several years ago while running a large television news operation I had my first relationship with a drone.
A contact/source with whom I had worked previously called to say he was working with a technology guy and they had developed a flight platform and wanted to test it. He brought a very sophisticated and light weight "miniature" airplane to the station. Some of my news managers attended and we were joined by the developer, an investor in the project and two fellows identified as interested parties and potential buyers. Later I was to learn they were from a federal agency that had high hopes for the plane.
The plane fit on a conference table but was rigged so it could take a lightweight camera mount. This was long before "drone" had worked it's way into the public lexicon or before being pressed into action as they are now. I was excited by the prospects of flying it over traffic jams, fires, emergency situations and getting images back for broadcast at much less expense than what our helicopter cost to operate.
My corporate boss lacked vision on this and despite my best efforts he passed and did so in a derisive way. I told him he was passing up a chance to be the first to use something from the future. Still to no avail.
Fast forward to 2014. They've become ubiquitous and in some cases practical. But I think we've entered a new chapter in our relationship with drones, as this piece of video tape from California demonstrates.
A contact/source with whom I had worked previously called to say he was working with a technology guy and they had developed a flight platform and wanted to test it. He brought a very sophisticated and light weight "miniature" airplane to the station. Some of my news managers attended and we were joined by the developer, an investor in the project and two fellows identified as interested parties and potential buyers. Later I was to learn they were from a federal agency that had high hopes for the plane.
The plane fit on a conference table but was rigged so it could take a lightweight camera mount. This was long before "drone" had worked it's way into the public lexicon or before being pressed into action as they are now. I was excited by the prospects of flying it over traffic jams, fires, emergency situations and getting images back for broadcast at much less expense than what our helicopter cost to operate.
My corporate boss lacked vision on this and despite my best efforts he passed and did so in a derisive way. I told him he was passing up a chance to be the first to use something from the future. Still to no avail.
Fast forward to 2014. They've become ubiquitous and in some cases practical. But I think we've entered a new chapter in our relationship with drones, as this piece of video tape from California demonstrates.
SHADOWS AND FOAM
I was fascinated by the interplay of the shadows and
kaleidoscopic flow of waves and sea foam. It provided a sort of black and white shape puzzle.
See you down the trail.
Well apparently one California surfer doesn't like drones.
ReplyDeleteIt's apparent that the, "bay boys" as they are known locally, do not want anyone invading their water or air space!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely, in some town in Colorado, someone proposed that people be given licenses to shoot down drones, tongue in cheek I Imagine
ReplyDeleteI guess if that fellow's aim was better we wouldn't have that video to look at. Very interesting how you saw this apparatus long before the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI consider drones to be flying rattlesnakes.
ReplyDelete