The biggest difference is the smaller size and lower price of a camera that can be attached to the drone and allow the operator a first-person perspective from the drone’s viewpoint in real time. Classic RC has the operator observing the aircraft from the outside, from a distance, and required the aircraft to stay within eyesight of the operator. Modern electronics eliminate that limitation, making them more versatile, for both good and ill.
That raises an interesting question: if you shoot at my property, can my property legally shoot back? Does the doctrine of self-defense apply to automatons?
Since it is already illegal to have your “property” shoot without your direct involvement (no man-traps), I’d guess that arming your remote-controlled machine would be a no-no. I doubt that having a machine do your murders would not absolve you of responsibility.
Note to those participating in anti-government group activities: bring large butterfly nets and/or long-handled tennis racquets.
If we ever get to the point that machines are so advanced as to have “personality”, we may re-visit the question, but I doubt it. We generally dislike having to worry about a machine going bad and start shooting people.
If you send your device onto my property, I suspect I can trash it at will.
I don’t have the cite for it, but in a previous thread on drones it was pointed out that there are some very sternly-worded laws concerning vehicle-mounted or remotely-operated weapons, and drones with weapons count as at least one of those (not sure whether they count as vehicles if you can’t ride them).
There’s also the fact that while RC planes and helicopters are something of a bitch to control (much like their full size counterparts) gyro-stabilized quad-rotor drones more or less fly and land themselves unless wind conditions get really bad.
From the cam’s P.o.v. it’s really quite like an FPS video game.
Meh. I’ve flown both. While the modern quad (or hex or octo or whatever) copter with gyro is easier than the older model RC types there is still some skill required for controlled flight. But yes, easier.