ordered within two hours...

[MrGeddings]

ok hopefully this isnt spammy but i ordered within the first two hours at Mar 19, 2014 10:10 AM PDT im curious if i should expect being in the first batch (US) be interesting to hear what the cutoff might be i would assume so but it depends on how many people had their eye on that within the first two hours ha ;-). Here's hoping.

[Gygax]

"kogashuko" wrote:

"tizer2000uk" wrote:
Either way, $350 for a set of 3D FPV goggles is a steal. The closest thing to it right now is fast shark dominator HDs which run $600 a pair if you can find them and have half the resolution.

hell yeah. im waiting to start something similar. better to use em with your own models than a derpy parrot
i figured with the price of fatsharks and the relatively lower performance, the oculus was an obvious choice. AND we can make VR environments and games with it (and ue4)

three-eyes.. big probs eh? the FAA is trying to talk up up fears with a few countries regarding unmanned fliers. a couple of dorks flew near a rescue helicopter here in aus a few weeks ago, and so the state government started bitching about RC fliers and quoting US fear campaigns.. :roll:

[ThreeEyes]

Unfortunately it's not all fear campaigns. We've had people use multis in all sorts of very stupid ways here. Some of the videos people have posted to places like YouTube are pretty amazing and scary. On the rcgroups bulletin boards, some are even defiant in their intentions to fly as they please and not to care at all about regulations.

We have had some good press like when a guy used his to survey a fire in a big pit that had explosives in a bunker. The fire department was able to determine it was safe to fight the fire without anyone endangering their lives to get in close to assess. But those are the really rare instances. Most end up being like the guy filming at some car wreck who refused to land when an air ambulance was approaching the scene, or the guys who fly too close to firefighters at some fire where the firefighters were distracted and scared of being hit by the multi.

The FAA issued a ruling on multis and FPVs and stated flatly that FPV is out.

http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/media/model_aircraft_spec_rule.pdf

By definition, a model aircraft must be flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft. P.L. 112-95, section 336(c)(2).1 Based on the plain language of the statute, the FAA interprets this requirement to mean that: (1) the aircraft must be visible at all times to the operator; (2) that the operator must use his or her own natural vision (which includes vision corrected by standard eyeglasses or contact lenses) to observe the aircraft; and (3) people other than the operator may not be used in lieu of the operator for maintaining visual line of sight. Under the criteria above, visual line of sight would mean that the operator has an unobstructed view of the model aircraft. To ensure that the operator has the best view of the aircraft, the statutory requirement would preclude the use of vision-enhancing devices, such as binoculars, night vision goggles, powered vision magnifying devices, and goggles designed to provide a “first-person view” from the model.

The FAA is aware that at least one community-based organization permits “first person view” (FPV) operations during which the hobbyist controls the aircraft while wearing goggles that display images transmitted from a camera mounted in the front of the model aircraft. While the intent of FPV is to provide a simulation of what a pilot would see from the flight deck of a manned aircraft, the goggles may obstruct an operator’s vision, thereby preventing the operator from keeping the model aircraft within his or her visual line of sight at all times.

It's up for comment but that closes in just a few days - July 25th. Maybe it won't stand? The hobby is definitely aware, has been circulating instructions on being heard, and is doing everything they can to organize and get people to comment. But it might also stand regardless of the comments. Thanks to the actions of a few, multis have a bad reputation here and some pilots have even been assaulted. It's generally not that bad and my own experience is people have been very curious and not hostile. But I also haven't been trying to look in windows, stalk beachgoers, etc.

I think it could go either way. Time will tell. But the hobby definitely has the FAA's attention and if it survives this, it won't take much to lock it away.

[kogashuko]

Oh, I agree there has been stupid things done by many people but...

The FAA lacks the constitutional authority to ban FPV without congressional action. Whatever they decide on has to be passed by the legislative process in order for a citizen to be put in jeopardy of life, limb, or property. This is a protection afforded by the constitution. Otherwise they could pass a rule about breathing since it is air molecules in the air and make the penalty death. This should shake down soon amongst several federal agencies. By their logic, I could hold a tribunal including my wife, my pets, and whoever the hell else I felt like to vote on condemning the world to death and have it enforced.

Bottom line is, whatever the FAA decides tomorrow or the next day is irrelevant because it has never been passed as law by any legislative body in the US.

The FCC seems to be the only ones now doing the right thing. They are actually going before the courts to ask permission to sue in reference to a damage. The suits are limited to large corporations as originally intended by the regulations.

In the end this could work out for oculus since it would lift import and export restrictions passed without legislative actions.

[ThreeEyes]

Good luck with that.

[Riftology]

"ThreeEyes" wrote:
Good luck with that.

Ugh, your annoying

User was warned for this post by cybereality. Personal attacks are not allowed.