Guy builds nightvision drone to hunt feral pigs(rcgroups.com)
rcgroups.com
Guy builds nightvision drone to hunt feral pigs
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1478852.
15 comments
And here is the guy's Something Awful thread:
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=343...
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=343...
I have some relatives that have the same problem in central Alabama. It got so bad that the local officials have allowed the use of scoped night vision weapons to let farmers hunt the pigs.
Also, this same relative says he doesn't walk around at night without a 0.50 caliber pistol and a shotgun. Apparently these pigs can be pretty unfriendly
Also, this same relative says he doesn't walk around at night without a 0.50 caliber pistol and a shotgun. Apparently these pigs can be pretty unfriendly
This is probably way more efficient than just going out stalking but with something like 3 million feral pigs in the USA it is going to take a lot of effort to bring the problem under control. Perhaps something like the Judas Goat, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_goat with an infra-red strobe (so you don't end up shooting it) might be more (cost) effective.
As a hacker who lives and codes from his ranch in Texas that has problems with feral hogs, I give this two thumbs up!
One thing to add for those not familiar with feral hogs... these animals are a non-native species and highly invasive. They can have at least 4-6 piglets at a time, 3 litters a year. They damage crop and farmland, carry disease, and compete with native wildlife for food.
One thing to add for those not familiar with feral hogs... these animals are a non-native species and highly invasive. They can have at least 4-6 piglets at a time, 3 litters a year. They damage crop and farmland, carry disease, and compete with native wildlife for food.
Would it not be easier to add motion sensors or something like this?
Depending on how huge fields they have this might be hard though..
Depending on how huge fields they have this might be hard though..
What costs more raising a pig or shooting one in the wild? If the answer is the latter perhaps someone can make a fun business out of it :)
The most effective way of removing feral hogs is by trapping since you can catch multiple animals at a time. Shoot one and the others scatter.
Feral hog meat, unlike typical pork, is a deep red and can have a wild-game taste. It makes for great sausage and barbecuing but you wouldn't necessarily want a ham sandwich everyday in your lunch.
Many outfitters charge both the hunter for the opportunity to hunt and the farmer for the removal service.
Feral hog meat, unlike typical pork, is a deep red and can have a wild-game taste. It makes for great sausage and barbecuing but you wouldn't necessarily want a ham sandwich everyday in your lunch.
Many outfitters charge both the hunter for the opportunity to hunt and the farmer for the removal service.
I don't think it is legal to sell feral pig meat.
Might be interesting to some of you: http://diydrones.com/
What about mounting infrared cameras to weather balloons?
He seems to have a problem "lingering" over the right area.
He seems to have a problem "lingering" over the right area.
Weather balloons do not provide a stable visual platform for the optics, nor are they maneuverable. Recovering your $4,500 FLIR sensor also becomes a challenge.
Sorry, I meant "tethered" weather balloons. Which I assume would solve the "recover-ability" issue. No idea on "stability".
A quadrocopter would probably be a better bet for hovering/stability
http://www.quadrocopter.us/
http://www.quadrocopter.us/
I don't know how well those fly at ~650ft (he was consistently around this altitude in later videos). Perhaps a traditional RC helicopter might work as well, but the noise would probably be a problem (I think he has electric planes).
However, if you just want to get rid of the pigs, not kill them, I could imagine that you could do pretty well herding them with a loud RC helicopter... perhaps even herd them into a trap or kill-zone.
However, if you just want to get rid of the pigs, not kill them, I could imagine that you could do pretty well herding them with a loud RC helicopter... perhaps even herd them into a trap or kill-zone.
Fair point. I am not 100% sure how high these fly; but you can put together an open-source arducopter for a lot cheaper than in that link (about $300 or so) and they can be programmed/automated.
So if you could get them high enough for the noise not to be a big issue, and to give them a reasonable coverage with the camera, you can easily put a few of these up in a network on autpilot (with way points) and just watch several screens at once.
So if you could get them high enough for the noise not to be a big issue, and to give them a reasonable coverage with the camera, you can easily put a few of these up in a network on autpilot (with way points) and just watch several screens at once.
The stability is normally poor, even with a tethered balloon, depending on wind conditions.
It also appears, from the guy's videos, that he has a large area of ground to cover, and with the limited optics and image resolutions he's working with, a tethered balloon wouldn't be very functional.
He should just stick with his plane idea.
It also appears, from the guy's videos, that he has a large area of ground to cover, and with the limited optics and image resolutions he's working with, a tethered balloon wouldn't be very functional.
He should just stick with his plane idea.
Is this just for spotting? I can't tell if it has any weaponry equipped.
This is a very cool build indeed.
This is a very cool build indeed.
There's a bunch of killer problems faced by aerial antipersonnel weapons platforms. The target is usually:
- Small.
- Far away
- Moving quickly in relation to the aircraft.
Additionally, you have lots of vibration (from the engine, and air turbulence) and you have to count every gram of payload; which makes precision weapons unhappy, since they're both heavy and want to be held very still.
You can solve the killer trio with very high rates of fire, or explosive projectiles.[1] These are both either very expensive or illegal for civilians; and you wouldn't want to be using them on a rice field anyway.
There's a reason Predator UAVs use guided missiles, not small arms.
---
[1]: The canonical ground-attack weapon, the GAU-8/A, uses both: 30mm explosive shells at 4,200 rounds per minute. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger
- Small.
- Far away
- Moving quickly in relation to the aircraft.
Additionally, you have lots of vibration (from the engine, and air turbulence) and you have to count every gram of payload; which makes precision weapons unhappy, since they're both heavy and want to be held very still.
You can solve the killer trio with very high rates of fire, or explosive projectiles.[1] These are both either very expensive or illegal for civilians; and you wouldn't want to be using them on a rice field anyway.
There's a reason Predator UAVs use guided missiles, not small arms.
---
[1]: The canonical ground-attack weapon, the GAU-8/A, uses both: 30mm explosive shells at 4,200 rounds per minute. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger
Those guided missiles while very explosive can be delivered with some shockingly accurate precision. I believe it was a recent Frontline where I heard they could guide these missiles through a car window (no reference sorry) of a moving vehicle.
The high explosive part seems more for insurance than a requirement for a successful hit.
Civilians of course don't have access to this stuff, but if the military has the capability now, it will eventually trickle down.
The high explosive part seems more for insurance than a requirement for a successful hit.
Civilians of course don't have access to this stuff, but if the military has the capability now, it will eventually trickle down.
The other difference is that a predator or reaper drone is the size of a small plane, his plane (or anything like it) is about just a basic remote controlled model, a bigger plane would fly much higher and be much more stable.
Equipping it with weaponry would almost certainly be illegal, let alone the fact that it would be next to impossible to aim if you don't use very expensive weapons.
Why illegal? Are there specific laws about mounting a firearm to an aircraft, or is the problem the automation of the weapon?
It seems that 'remote hunting' has been banned in various US states, although not all of them: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2011/02/north-da...
Obviously it would be illegal in most of Europe and probably elsewhere too.
This is something I've spent a fair few idle afternoons daydreaming about, and to be honest I'm quite worried about the future possibility of semi-autonomous weaponised drones. The average HN reader probably has the knowledge and access to resources necessary to build a basic manually-controlled drone. An iPhone or even an Arduino would provide the necessary computing power for semi-autonomous activity (and a whole bunch of useful sensors, including GPS, camera etc.) and it can't be long before someone builds some open source software to enable these things to fly basic missions (go to these coordinates, film for 30 minutes, return to base, avoid obvious obstacles whilst doing so). Mounting some kind of weapon on there is a fairly simple step. You could even print the weapon parts with a 3D printer...
What really scares me is the arms race that will occur when law enforcement has to deal with this kind of thing.
Obviously it would be illegal in most of Europe and probably elsewhere too.
This is something I've spent a fair few idle afternoons daydreaming about, and to be honest I'm quite worried about the future possibility of semi-autonomous weaponised drones. The average HN reader probably has the knowledge and access to resources necessary to build a basic manually-controlled drone. An iPhone or even an Arduino would provide the necessary computing power for semi-autonomous activity (and a whole bunch of useful sensors, including GPS, camera etc.) and it can't be long before someone builds some open source software to enable these things to fly basic missions (go to these coordinates, film for 30 minutes, return to base, avoid obvious obstacles whilst doing so). Mounting some kind of weapon on there is a fairly simple step. You could even print the weapon parts with a 3D printer...
What really scares me is the arms race that will occur when law enforcement has to deal with this kind of thing.
If you're building this for purposes law enforcement will be concerned with, a flying bomb / guided makes far more sense than a gun platform IMHO. Build a few kamikaze drones, load them up with semtex and shrapnel, put them into a steep dive from altitude over your target...
(I should stress I'm a very peaceful chap with no revolutionary or violent inclinations whatsoever!)
(I should stress I'm a very peaceful chap with no revolutionary or violent inclinations whatsoever!)
> (I should stress I'm a very peaceful chap with no revolutionary or violent inclinations whatsoever!)
That's how it starts...
That's how it starts...
...to be honest I'm quite worried about the future possibility of semi-autonomous weaponised drones.
"A future for drones: Automated killing"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/a-f...
"A future for drones: Automated killing"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/a-f...
>It seems that 'remote hunting' has been banned in various US states, although not all of them: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2011/02/north-da....
There are exemptions to most of these laws, including ones concerning "hunting seasons" for farmers.
I knew a guy with an orchard who had the coveted right in Ohio to shoot deer all year long. 80% of that man's familys' protein came from those hungry deer.
There are exemptions to most of these laws, including ones concerning "hunting seasons" for farmers.
I knew a guy with an orchard who had the coveted right in Ohio to shoot deer all year long. 80% of that man's familys' protein came from those hungry deer.
"Coveted" by flakes and suburbanites, maybe. If he's like most of the farmers and orchardists I know, he would probably much prefer to buy his meat and not have to worry about the deer eating his money crop. Farmers, and even just general gardeners, mostly hate deer, usually intensely.
I hear you about that. I have a small garden. We live in the Sierra foothills in north/central California. Usually, things are OK with the dog and people coming and going. But when we go on vacation, they tear stuff up badly.
... And I like to fly small R/C foamies, as well :-) No plans to build any flying defenses, though.
... And I like to fly small R/C foamies, as well :-) No plans to build any flying defenses, though.
Wouldn't it make sense that they would 'covet' permission to destroy the object of their hatred year round?
Deer have killed a lot of people and destroyed a lot of property. It's a coveted right for a reason.
You must have a hell of a wireless keyboard, typing from up on that high horse of yours.
You must have a hell of a wireless keyboard, typing from up on that high horse of yours.
From what I understand, regular folk can't automate firearm actuation. Off he top of my head, you would at least need a Type 7 license with a class 2 SOT from our friends at the ATF to automate weapon fire on a drone.
The FAA other alphabet soup agencies probably have other regulations regarding the manufacture and use of a flying killing machine.
Some info on ATF licenses: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Firearms_License
The FAA other alphabet soup agencies probably have other regulations regarding the manufacture and use of a flying killing machine.
Some info on ATF licenses: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Firearms_License
Dude. Putting any kind of weaponry payload on a civilian aircraft (RC or otherwise) is highly, highly illegal in the US. I'm sure it's illegal practically everywhere else that's sane for the exact same reasons.
It's not just "remote hunting" that's banned. It's the attachment of any weapon to an aerial or moving platform that's banned. A slingshot on a paper plane would qualify by a literal interpretation of the laws as written.
It's not just "remote hunting" that's banned. It's the attachment of any weapon to an aerial or moving platform that's banned. A slingshot on a paper plane would qualify by a literal interpretation of the laws as written.
Do you have a source for this? It sounds quite likely, but any time law gets discussed I always try to find the relevant texts. I'm having trouble finding anything other than laws about carrying firearms on your person while on a commercial airliner.
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn...
See section 91.15 for the part about "dropping of items."
I'm still looking for the BATF regs on this. IANAL, so it's a bit of work, but I do know a few guys that do weapons systems (govt contractor) and my younger brother is a pilot.
See section 91.15 for the part about "dropping of items."
I'm still looking for the BATF regs on this. IANAL, so it's a bit of work, but I do know a few guys that do weapons systems (govt contractor) and my younger brother is a pilot.
Found this which seems to confirm what I'm saying:
http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13318
As long as they aren't actually guns, it's legal. As soon as they become actual firearms, then you need permits/licenses/etc.
http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13318
As long as they aren't actually guns, it's legal. As soon as they become actual firearms, then you need permits/licenses/etc.
Flying a UAV for commercial purposes is already illegal. However, mounting a gun on there would raise his chances of being prosecuted substantially.
Unless you're talking about missiles or some other relatively recoilless weapon, firing anything powerful enough to kill a hog would tear this plane apart.
Yes. He guides his brother(?) with the aircraft via walkie-talkie. There seemed like there was a point where the resolution of the camera wasn't high enough to figure out which was the hunter and which was the pig. Maybe easily solved if the hunter wore a flashing IR beacon or something.
Not so much in stills, but in motion video it's pretty easy to discern between human and animal[1].
[1] Yeah, I've worked with this stuff, too.
[1] Yeah, I've worked with this stuff, too.
Just for spotting. I imagine it would take on a whole new world of complications with a weapon, but legally and functionally.
cool. how about getting those angry birds on this.. :P
Is he shooting the drones out of a giant slingshot perhaps? ;)
another technique that has been very successful with pigs and goats is to release a pig with a tracking collar. pigs and goats are much better then human at tracking down other pigs and goats. mounting the tracking collar receiver on this system would be of great assistance.
http://www.feral.org.au/tag/judas-pig/
http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WR96109.htm