Attack of the Drones
Drone over PNC Park during Pirates game June 27, 2014
Have you heard the controversy over drones?
Apparently someone flew a drone over the L.A. Kings during the Stanley Cup victory celebration and fans knocked it out of the sky. Initial news reports claimed the drone belonged to the Los Angeles Police Department, but the LAPD said it wasn't theirs.
It wasn't too long ago that talk of drones was limited to reports of military engagements, and now the conversation has spread from Amazon's plans to deliver products to drones being banned from U.S. National Parks.
How do you feel about tiny copters mounted with cameras flying over your house?
But Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through, or we will come out with the sword against you. - Numbers 20:18
Chances are the FAA will continue to strike down plans for large scale drone use by companies, as it did recently to Amazon's plan, but what about the general public?
In today's reading from Numbers, Moses is trying to pass through a territory to get to the other side, but he is denied access by the king of Edom. We feel for Moses because we are on the journey with him and want to see him succeed, but what about the king's perspective?
Would you want a hoard of foreigners trampling through your property?
Are drones modern day trespassers? Do we want them invading our space?
As a photo and video enthusiast, I can see many applications for the technology in capturing overhead shots of my grandsons' sports events. But could you imagine all the parents and grandparents firing up their drones to hover over home plate during a playoff game, or buzzing down the court during a scrimmage, or hanging out above the fifty yard line?
There are even personal mini drones that follow you around without the need for you to control them. Imagine marathon runners or triathletes being followed by a swarms of insect-like voyeurs.
Perhaps we don't have to worry about people trampling across our lawns or marching through our streets like the king of Edom, but there are invaders and trespassers out there getting ready to invade.
Maybe someone will invent a new game where you get points for each drone you knock out of the sky with a tennis ball launched from a homemade cannon.
Hey, that's not a bad idea!
Stay tuned and keep an eye out for the Drone-killer Canon, coming to a store near you.
More to come...
Photo credit: Root Sports