Will the Parrot ARdrone make friends?
The marketing campaign for the Parrot AR.drone continues to get more extreme.
Breaking several sections of the Air Navigation Order the marketers have flown over head Guards preparing to march in the centre of London.
The premise of the campaign seems to be that annoying people is fun. Where are the stimulating Augmented Reality games?
Will high street retailer HMV continue to endorse the AR drone if the makers attack respected targets around the world in stunt videos?
sUAS news asked Gennero Castaldo, head of Press and PR at HMV for comment:-
We understand the principle function of the AR.Drone to be a gaming one, where one or more players are able to take each other on using ‘fourth-dimensional’ technology, and it’s on this basis that we are stocking the product. We are not aware of any issues, and are merchandising the AR-drone in good faith, but if ever we are advised otherwise by the likes of Trading Standards or other such bodies, then we will obviously take these into account.
In a second video the toy flies at Horse Guards riding through Hyde Park. Perhaps the IRA bombing at about that point had slipped their minds.
From the BBC
The IRA detonated a bomb, made up of 25lb of gelignite surrounded by four and six-inch nails, as the Household Cavalrymen of the Blues and Royals passed through Hyde Park.
The terrorists sat and watched the front rank of the 16-strong squad draw level with a car containing the bomb.
As they rode past at 1044 GMT the nail bomb was detonated by remote control, killing four guardsmen and seven horses.
Of course now by posting this we are helping the marketing effort and might be over reacting. The videos state that they were made by professionals. They are obviously for an advertising campaign. That’s using a UAS for hire and reward.
Lets see Parrots permission to fly in the centre of London and each release from every person and building owner.
The CAA legal department really should be investigating.
