Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

This is why you shouldn’t fly drones indoors

By atesmeh | December 9, 2014

Share

Flying drones indoors is rarely a wise decision. Flying large drones indoors near innocent bystanders is asking for trouble. So when TGI Friday’s mistletoe-toting drones injured someone in a cramped restaurant in Brooklyn, well, we should’ve seen this coming.

Last month, the Texas-based restaurant chain announced a promotion whereby DJI Phantom drones armed with mistletoe would troll a UK location looking for “cozy couples” to ambush with, well, what we traditionally associate with the parasitic plant — an obligation to smooch.

The idea was cute, if entirely self-serving, not to mention potentially dangerous. Gizmodo dismissed it as a marketing stunt. Back in 2013, a couple of festive DIYers launched a quadcopter toting mistletoe in San Francisco’s Union Square, having some nice, clean, SFW fun with no corporate motives. And while TGI Friday’s doesn’t have the same charitable intentions, its sin was its choice of venue.

If a wise commander chooses his battlefield carefully, then TGI Friday’s screwed up worse than Xerxes at Thermopylae. To wit — they deployed their drones indoors, not at a public square. Anyone who doesn’t see the obvious danger in flying large objects with spinning rotors mere feet from human spectators in cramped quarters needs to bone up on their military history (or learn some common sense).

When TGI Friday’s debuted their mistletoe drone fleet in New York City, they deployed two drones — a smaller 10-inch quadcopter and a large 23-inch drone with six rotors and no prop guards. The Brooklyn Daily had dispatched a news team to cover the historic PDA moment, and what ensued was the world’s first drone strike inside a restaurant.

As Vanessa Ogle of the Brooklyn Daily recounted, “The two remote-controlled helicopters dangling sprigs of mistletoe were intended to spread holiday romance, but one of them flew out of control and clipped Courier photographer Georgine Benvenuto in the nose with one of its spinning, uncovered blades.”

“It literally chipped off a tip of my nose,” said Benvenuto, using tissues to stanch the blood. “It took off part of my nose and cut me here, right under my chin.”

And apparently, the restaurant chain’s drone operator is blaming the injured photographer for the mishap.

[Drone operator David Quiones] “had encouraged our reporter to let him land the smaller of the two aircraft on her hand, but she flinched when the 10-inch drone touched down — and he said that is what caused the four-bladed flying machine to careen into the face of our photographer nearby. But Benvenuto insisted that the responsibility lies with the man operating the controls.”

Let’s face it — this isn’t war, and no one (thank god) is seriously injured. But this is a stern reminder that drones — even consumer models — can cause serious injury if used recklessly. A “drone” is only as safe as its operator. Also, a cramped restaurant is not the best place for flying mistletoe.


Filed Under: Aerospace + defense

 

Related Articles Read More >

Ontic acquires Servotek and Westcon product lines from Marsh Bellofram
Flexible rotary shafts support thrust reverser on 150 LEAP 1-A turbofan engines
Drone-mounted inspection breaks barriers for F-35
TriStar, a misunderstood failure of design

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings