Weaponized Drone Contest (Potentially Part Of The Defcon Shoot)

[seeess]

With the topic of drones coming up in the defcon shoot tshirt thread what does everyone think about a weaponized drone contest?

A quick google search came up with...

• A bill introduced banning the use of weaponized drones, and otherwise restricting drone use (§3119h. Ban on weaponization)
• Someone building a contact based shock drone
• Rumors of drone use to hunt Dorner
• Kickstarter projects for DIY weaponized drones
• A popular youtube channel of a fake weaponized drone
• And calls to ban them

Realize that most of these have come up since the last defcon and are extremely relevant, and I think would fit well at defcon.

So clearly there are a ton of safety concerns that need to be discussed in detail to make sure everyone is comfortable before something like this could take place. If it is flying with snap caps, using blanks, secondary safety mechanisms controlled by event organizers, or electronic compasses to ensure drones are pointed down range, I think those can be worked out in time.

The scoring system would have to be worked out, some people might want to build really small stealthy single shot versions, while others use jet planes or something crazy.

I cross posted this in the defcon shoot forum, hopefully that is allowed. I wanted everyone from here and there to see this idea and provide feedback since it would potentially take place after the defcon shoot.

[VøLT]

Re: Weaponized Drone Contest (Potentially Part Of The Defcon Shoot)

My suggestion would be to limit this to NERF-guns for safety reasons and rather refer to it as a proof of concept
Considering how different people will build their drones different ways, keeping them all in check through standardized safety mechanisms would be difficult.
If I recall correctly, using a remote electronic trigger on a firearm is illegal on weapons that are not manually operated. So mounting a Mossington 570 would be legal, whereas any semi-automatic firearm would be illegal as "it would be simple programming to make it full-auto" according to the people at the ATF and thus a Class III firearm.

Do note, I am not a US Citizen, and this is taken from memory.

I would be very interested in a drone vs drone dogfighting challenge though. It might become expensive, but I think it would be rad as hell to watch.

[t0x0]

Re: Weaponized Drone Contest (Potentially Part Of The Defcon Shoot)

Regarding the ATF, it may be worth writing a letter requesting an assessment if you think a design is questionable. Electronic triggers in themselves have previously been deemed acceptable - the key is ensuring that you only get one shot per trigger pull (unless you have a registered receiver or RDIAS or somesuch, then it's a moot point). I'm not sure how (or if) the trigger being remotely actuated would be affect the issue, but as long as you ensured it was one pull, one shot, Title 2 wouldn't apply.

[DroneVillage]

Re: Weaponized Drone Contest (Potentially Part Of The Defcon Shoot)

I would be very interested in a drone vs drone dogfighting challenge though. It might become expensive, but I think it would be rad as hell to watch.

It's a great idea. This is part of what we are considering for a proposed Drone Village. The weapons would almost certainly be nerf-based or something similarly non-lethal and non-dangerous. A few of us are working on an RFC for the forum to show how we think a Drone Village would be executed. Keep an eye on the forum for that post in the next few weeks.

[VøLT]

Re: Weaponized Drone Contest (Potentially Part Of The Defcon Shoot)

Neat, guess I'll start start trying to "weaponize" my drone with NERF-guns then.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Weaponized Drone Contest (Potentially Part Of The Defcon Shoot)

personally, i'd be most interested in seeing drones fly across the shooting area (kind of high up) but with long fishing lines dangling below which hold targets to be shot such as sporting clays. being able to fire at a moving target that's zipping around would be pretty kickass, hah.

not a bad contest. a game a la Duck Hunt. :-)