Umm, the point was more about the rule, not the specific numbers. Most of the little quad's like the parrot(1) can free-fall unpowered right onto your head and cause little injury, but you are absolutely not allowed to use the pictures your parrot sends back for any commercial purpose whatsoever. Even as a hobbyist, you are not allowed to fly your parrot outside of direct line of sight, even though its technology clearly begs to be used this way.
Also bear in mind that a 5 pound sponge that hits you at 30 might be a bit more pleasant than a 5 pound chunk of concrete. Perhaps I should have worked out a formula for average density per unit of speed modulated by compressibility,
but again, that's not the point. First, acknowledge we need common sense rules that allow a great deal of freedom at the bottom end. Worry about the specifics later.
The worst thing that can happen is that all unapproved drone flights remain off limits "for our safety" and exceptions are made only for those rich and patient enough to clear a bunch of bureaucratic hurdles (which will become higher each year as bigcorps dominate the space and lobby to "increase our safety" and keep the upstarts out).
(1) I am well aware that a parrot weighs less than 5 lbs.
Also bear in mind that a 5 pound sponge that hits you at 30 might be a bit more pleasant than a 5 pound chunk of concrete. Perhaps I should have worked out a formula for average density per unit of speed modulated by compressibility, but again, that's not the point. First, acknowledge we need common sense rules that allow a great deal of freedom at the bottom end. Worry about the specifics later.
The worst thing that can happen is that all unapproved drone flights remain off limits "for our safety" and exceptions are made only for those rich and patient enough to clear a bunch of bureaucratic hurdles (which will become higher each year as bigcorps dominate the space and lobby to "increase our safety" and keep the upstarts out).
(1) I am well aware that a parrot weighs less than 5 lbs.