New video shows drone crashing onto roof at Apple Park
Illustrating the risks of flying over Apple Park, a pilot crashed a drone into the complex over the weekend, requiring the help of a fellow pilot to locate the wreckage.
The drone was over the main ring when it suddenly lost control, plummeting downwards. There were no signs that it was about to fail, its owner told the rescue pilot, Apple Park flyover specialist Matthew Roberts.
Roberts flew a DJI Phantom 4 Pro over the campus, eventually discovering the crashed drone wedged in between rooftop solar panels. The craft appears to have been mostly intact, and its owner notified Apple about the incident. So far there's been no sign of a response, which may make the property's return unlikely.
Roberts and other drone operators regularly fly over the main ring, known as the "spaceship." Apart from its unusual architecture, the building attracts people wanting to record construction and landscaping progress and/or generate publicity by sharing the footage with media outlets.
Apple could potentially crack down on pilots, since a future crash might damage equipment or hit someone walking in the campus courtyard.
The drone was over the main ring when it suddenly lost control, plummeting downwards. There were no signs that it was about to fail, its owner told the rescue pilot, Apple Park flyover specialist Matthew Roberts.
Roberts flew a DJI Phantom 4 Pro over the campus, eventually discovering the crashed drone wedged in between rooftop solar panels. The craft appears to have been mostly intact, and its owner notified Apple about the incident. So far there's been no sign of a response, which may make the property's return unlikely.
Roberts and other drone operators regularly fly over the main ring, known as the "spaceship." Apart from its unusual architecture, the building attracts people wanting to record construction and landscaping progress and/or generate publicity by sharing the footage with media outlets.
Apple could potentially crack down on pilots, since a future crash might damage equipment or hit someone walking in the campus courtyard.
Comments
Fly at your own risk.
And if damages, sue for those too.
Tesla semi, suddenly decides to veer through the downtown street-market.... etc. Oops, a glitch.
Or, one wonders how much harm one of these would do it if hit a person.
if Apple does not return the property to the rightful owner, Apple would be in violation of the California law that stipulates that a reasonable attempt to return the property if the owner can be identified.
California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 485
This is the same state law that got Brian Hogan of Redwood City (the finder of a prototype iPhone 4 erroneously left behind in a beer garden) in very hot water and eventually led to the sacking of one of Gizmodo's editorial staffers. Hogan's actions were very dishonest as he did not attempt to do the right thing and turn the phone over to the bar owners; he took the phone home with him.My guess is that Hogan's legal fees were far more than a $5000 that Gizmodo paid him for the device.
"Finders, keepers" is not a valid legal defense in California and Apple would be hypocrites as well as thieves if they do not return the drone.
The simplest explanation why Apple has not returned the drone to its owner is because it's a three day holiday weekend and no one wants to wreck their weekend plans with this silly nonsense right now. They can make the drone owner worry about it over the long weekend. It's not a lost baby or stray dog.
California law is hazy about deliberate takedowns of drones. Most of California's drone regulations have to do with invasion of privacy, not about property damage or personal injury.
One option Apple does have is to encourage the appropriate authorities to file charges against the drone operator for violating federal airspace regulations, most likely a federal felony.
Of course, Apple could return the drone to its owner along with a bill for solar panel repair.
Now, apply this to self-driving cars. Sure, there will be failures, injuries, and deaths, but I'll bet the number of crashes resulting from human error will be far greater.
Self-driving cars don't fall asleep, drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol, faint due to medical conditions, text, eat, talk, apply makeup, try to beat red lights, speed, or turn around swatting unruly children (or spouses) in the back seat like human drivers do.
This technology still has a way to go before it will be commercially deployed but for certain, its arrival will be inevitable so try to get used to the idea.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=drones+hitting+people