We've got two neighborhoods - different HOA - that share an alley. I fly my quadcopter around the neighborhood on occasion, and last night I had it up about 100 ft (to keep noise level down) to kill the battery. I just pretty much kept it straight above the house, zoomed around once to show my wife the lights, and when I went inside I had this email waiting for me, via a "contact us" link on my webpage:
I sent this back:
And then got this:
I'm new to this - I can't believe people are this paranoid. My wife is actually creeped out the guy was able to find a way to contact me without even knowing my name. Does this merit another response? Has anyone else come up against this? We're in Texas, and I'm following the FAA "regulations" and Texas law, so far as I know. Just some thoughts on how to handle this now or in future would be helpful. Thanks.
You have been creeping people out and me tonight flying close enough to our houses to see in windows. Cut it out. Saw you took a video of your own house on youtube. Same place I saw it land tonight. It's ok to have fun with it, but people just think you are spying on them at night and want to knock it down. We all talk on a forum....
I sent this back:
I'm really sorry to hear that I've been bothering people. I can assure you that I am not looking in anyone's windows and if you provide me with information about the forum I would be happy to answer any questions or concerns myself. The type of camera on the copter cannot look in windows - it doesn't really have those capabilities. Even if I'm right next to a window, the camera cannot see inside. Also, unless working a specific event, I maintain over 100 feet in flight without the ability to look down at an angle. Tonight I was running down the battery to recharge for an event tomorrow, and as the battery died it lowered more slowly than usual. The copter also does not film in detail at night, so I never bother running the camera after dark - everything just looks completely black. I would be happy to demonstrate this on a vid and post it if it would help. It's not at all my intention to make people uncomfortable in their own homes.
Thank you for contacting me.
And then got this:
Sounds a little sketchy seeing how many times it has been spotted above backyards and moves when someone is watching it. Also I've seen night videos from DGI Phantoms and you can see a lot. People would not be too creeped out if you stated you were watching for burglars and it was maybe a time when that stuff happens. Also going into alleys a couple blocks away doesn't sound like just draining batteries when you could do that in your backyard. I may play with one of these things too, but I would probably do it in the daytime, at least on the public streets and try not too look like I am peeping in windows.
I did pass on your message. But the forum is for Brookstone homeowners so you couldn't post there.
Thanks,
Aaron
I'm new to this - I can't believe people are this paranoid. My wife is actually creeped out the guy was able to find a way to contact me without even knowing my name. Does this merit another response? Has anyone else come up against this? We're in Texas, and I'm following the FAA "regulations" and Texas law, so far as I know. Just some thoughts on how to handle this now or in future would be helpful. Thanks.