I was reading the very interesting Time special report on drones and there was a mention of this company. I am skeptical about whether there is a practical business model here but it’s a cool idea and from the videos it at least seems to work. It would have made a great plotline for a Silicon Valley episode.
Pretty cool, but I’m kind of worried that the birds could be hurt doing this; spinning helicopter style blades, even made of plastic, could do some damage.
From a more practical standpoint, load a drone with a quarter-kilo (less, even) of C4 or Semtex, and scratch one Drone-Hunting-Bird; and Bad Guys ™ can make drones and plastic explosives faster than we can make and train Drone-Hunting-Raptors.
Why not make a Drone-Hunting-Drone?
Robot Wars could get really fuckin’ real. Our Robot Overlords could duke it out like a skyborne version of Rock 'Em/Sock 'Em Robots and leave us ground-based meat bags in peace.
I’d pay money to see that.
Actually I think drone-based sports could be very cool.
Including eagle versus drones. You could have relatively small, inexpensive drones specially designed to minimize the chances of the eagle getting hurt. It would be a fun way of watching eagles do their thing without having any real animal getting hurt.
More broadly watching predators hunting differently types of robots could be a fun spectator experience at zoos and aquariums. It might be an enjoyable activity for the animals too.
Just when you think you’ve heard The Craziest Fucking Thing On Earth, the internet comes through and surprises you.
I got a pretty nasty cut on my foot once when I landed a drone poorly and it bounced and grazed my bare foot. The blades on a drone are very strong and stiff. I do not doubt for a minute that a drone blade could kill an eagle instantly if it hit it in the head or neck. Even a strike on the wing or body could easily cripple the bird.
Tie line 3-6 feet long from your drone that has small drone killing charge and chase down with the hunter drone and detonate charge by direct command to help prevent accidental discharges.
There was talk of Dutch police using eagles to catch drones during national events, but they stopped this initiative late last year after testing: article in English.