At some point, the term “drone” became inherently sinister. At some point, the term “drone” became attached to all remotely-controlled devices that fly.

 

Which has caused plenty of people to assume that any and all drones are evil and capable of mass mayhem. Which likely has delayed many reasonable innovations relating to the use of drones.

In the NFL, one team is embracing the use of drones. Via Todd Archer of ESPN.com, the Cowboys are using drones to film practice during OTAs.

 

“We pride ourselves on coaching and teaching our players as well as we can and film has been a big part of the game for a long time,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Typically you have an end zone shot and a sideline shot. We use a lot of hand-held cameras on the ground. . . . One of our coaches went down to SMU for their spring practices and saw they were using it. They liked the angle. We got a chance to see it, so we decided to take a look at it.”

 

Last year, NFL Media considered using drones as part of the Inside Training Campseries. It’s unclear why the technology wasn’t used. Maybe it’s just the stigma of equating an innocent RC helicopter to an anonymous death machine.

 

Then again, maybe they are.

 

Cowboys filming practice with drones | ProFootballTalk

It's an excellent idea, not too costly, and your schools tech department/students would get real world experience.

 

Anyone?

Pretty sure kHSAA recently banned us from using these at games. Don't know why practices would be forbidden though.

The big catch it that most drones don't have an exceptionally long fly time per battery charge. I'm sure there are some really good angles you can get in game or in practice.

 

I'm just not sure how easy it would be for most high schools.

Well, if you can send a guy and park in a inconspicuous part of the parking lot with field glasses and an iPad to chart plays at opposing team practices, I guess small spy drones are not far off.

I'm using a drone to film SK's

practice the week they play Cooper.

^ Beat me to it.

 

Your own practice, or someone else's?

I'm using a drone to film SK's

practice the week they play Cooper.

 

And I'm utterly SHOCKED that Cooper would need such assistance.:lol:

Pretty sure KHSAA recently banned us from using these at games. Don't know why practices would be forbidden though.

 

Why were they banned?

Why were they banned?

I would

guess because they could interfere with the game and the battery life could also cause an ugly Kama Kazi episode in the middle of a play.

I would

guess because they could interfere with the game and the battery life could also cause an ugly Kama Kazi episode in the middle of a play.

 

The paranoia side would also suggest they could hover above a coach's play sheet and/or zoom in on whatever they draw up on a whiteboard on the sideline as they make changes as well.

Approved a policy recommendation banning the use of drones at KHSAA events. Until additional regulations are adopted by the FAA, the KHSAA shall operate congruently with the FAA regulations on model aircraft as of August 20, 2010, irrespective of a facility’s seating capacity (TFR 14 CFR 91.145 and Special Notes FDC 9/5151), and not allow the use of drones for any reason at KHSAA sanctioned events.

I've seen some cool video from quadrotors taken at high school games just showing the whole atmosphere.

I watched a drone crash a few times midfield during warmups last year at an Ashland game. I believe it was the Ashland/Raceland game. I noticed that an Ashland police officer kept picking it up, but the drone kept coming back. I found out later that it was in fact the APD that was operating the drone. I was a bit surprised after seeing an officer pick it up after the first crash that it continued to be in use in a packed stadium with players on the field. I don't recall seeing it once the game started, but I wasn't looking for it either.

Looking at a few a while back on line...many weight in the 1500 grams range (around 3 pounds)...not much of a danger to players with helmets and pads on.