windmill29130
Guru
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2011
- Messages
- 716
- Vessel Name
- JAZ
- Vessel Make
- Ta Chaio/CT35
An overhead camera known as "spidercam" is in use at cricket matches in Australia. It is suspended and positioned on overhead wires, not free, but operates much like a drone. At one point it was low enough and close enough to distract a player in the process of taking a catch. Result: fieldsman distracted, ball dropped, no catch, batsman survived. Lots of press coverage, debate, rule rewriting, followed
My understanding is, in Australia the drone is regarded as an aircraft, but there is zero practical prospect of regulating their operation and flightpath. They have been operated, probably by news gatherers, at forest fires sites, when they are water bombing aircraft pilots are reluctant to operate for fear of collision. Cricket is taken seriously here (well above watching paint dry or grass grow). The cricket incident points up the risk and danger of distraction, which could affect a boat operator. I`d be equally concerned by operator error and being hit by one,many operators will not be the sharpest tool in the shed.
Cricket fighting! That cruelty to insects.