Forget Jetpacks. Where’s My DIY Drone?

Eyes in the Skies The Border Patrol has 7 unarmed Predators, which it says have helped bust 15,000 lbs. of pot and 4,000 undocumented border crossers. In 2003, the American Border Patrol, an Arizona anti-immigration group, launched its own UAV, the Border Hawk, to look for “invaders.”

Hanging Around AeroVironment says its Global Observer’s ability to “loiter” at 65,000 feet for a week makes it perfect for mapping, weather tracking, crop management…oh, and homeland security.

Air Spray Programmable unmanned choppers have been spraying Japanese crops since the early 1990s.

Seeing Green The makers of the $17,000 Draganflyer X6 helicopter say it’s perfect for golf course owners who want “stunning pictures” of their fairways.

Drone Alone Private citizens can fly their own drones, so long as they stay below 400 feet. You can build your own for less than $500. Check out diydrones.com.

Hide and Seek In February, a British police UAV used thermal imaging to nab a suspected car thief—the UK’s first drone-assisted arrest. The Houston PD and the LA Sheriff have test flown UAVs, and the FBI has tested a model designed to fly down alleyways, tunnels, and ventilation shafts.

Unfriendly Skies Defense analysts warn that inexpensive UAVs could be “the ideal attack platform” for terrorists. In 2004, Homeland Security said it was watching for “suspicious persons” with an interest in remote-controlled aircraft.

Special Delivery FedEx’s founder says the company would like to fly UAVs in the near future.
A NASA researcher predicts that we could soon see what Air & Space calls an “unmanned pizza delivery pod.”

Bombs Away At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in May, President Obama warned the Jonas Brothers: “Sasha and Malia are huge fans. But boys, don’t get any ideas. Two words for you: Predator drones.”