SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Days after Dutch police released a video demonstrating a trained eagle attacking a drone, other police officials and politicians have registered interest:
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they're looking into deploying drone-busting eagles, a few days after a Scottish MP called for cops north of the border to investigate the possibility of using feathered interceptors to deal with growing flocks of wild UAVs.
According to the Times, Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has tasked a chief inspector with seeing if a Dutch talon-armed anti-UAV initiative might work in the UK's capital.
[...] A Metropolitan Police spokesman said yesterday: "As would be expected in an organisation that is transforming we take an interest in all innovative new ideas and will of course be looking at the work of the Dutch police use of eagles."
(Score: 2) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Tuesday February 09 2016, @01:24AM
Real drone baddies (you know, terrorists and such) who are really up to no good will simply attach razor blade to the leading edges of the drone's props and turn the attacking police eagle into thin salami slices.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday February 09 2016, @02:00AM
Aren't all eagles on the protected species list (don't know if the UK has such?)
I can't see this ending well for the eagle even with stock drones, let alone the razor blade drones.
The first time it gets a claw or beak in the prop will be the last time it attacks a drone even if it isn't seriously hurt.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 09 2016, @02:15AM
Astonishingly, the RSPCA would countenance this plan. Their spokesperson said [bbc.com]:
National Geographic has come out with an editorial [nationalgeographic.com] against the notion, noting that it's been less than ten years since the bald eagle was removed from the Endangered Species List.
(Score: 2) by arslan on Tuesday February 09 2016, @02:17AM
Not if they sufficiently armor the raptors. The original Dutch initiative did mention this option, though they didn't go into details.
It still won't protect against heavily modified drones fitted with fatal melee capabilities, but I would think those are the edge case. I wouldn't think the "growing flock of wild-UAVs" mentioned by the MP were terrorist kamikaze drones.
(Score: 3, Funny) by cmn32480 on Tuesday February 09 2016, @02:52AM
Give the Eagles air-to-air missiles. That ought to even the odds with the razor-blade packing drones.
Don't bring a razor blade to a dogfight!
"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 09 2016, @04:12AM
Missiles or how about...lasers?
*hides behind anonymity*
(Score: 3, Funny) by aristarchus on Tuesday February 09 2016, @03:40AM
What is this obsession with eagles? Why not a perfectly good goshawk? Or even better, geese. Large, Canadian, Geese, at altitude, having been well fed some time before. Bombs away, and no risk to the birds. When the drone disabling material hits, well, the drone, it gets real!
(Score: 2) by turgid on Tuesday February 09 2016, @02:15PM
Remember what happened to the Goodies!
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 09 2016, @06:40AM
Two acronyms...
RSPCA
RSPB
One wonders what these august bodies think of this nonsense..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 09 2016, @09:00AM
One of the first things to do after getting the first base buildings up and basic ground defence is to build basic air defence. How have we survived this long without this?
(Score: 2) by Hawkwind on Tuesday February 09 2016, @05:06PM
The bird handlers seem to not be worried about the falcons being harmed
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 09 2016, @06:42PM
Come on, people, cut it out. That shit isn't funny any more.
http://www.theverge.com/tldr/2015/4/27/8503191/will-it-blend-please-stop [theverge.com]