German Tinkerer Makes A 'Balloon Hunter'

We have to admit that when this story first popped up, it looked like an early April Fool's joke. But it appears it's the real deal. A person described as a "cyberpunk" by Gizmag has put a 3-mW red laser for aiming and a 1.5-W laser for shooting/burning on a Amewi AMX-51 Quadcopter.

The person behind the project is Patrick Priebe, who activates his burning laser using the switch that originally controlled the LED lights on the aircraft. The aiming laser is always on, according to Gizmag.

Priebe upped the battery capacity to have enough power to run the lasers, which he says he only activates in a controlled, indoor environment while wearing eye protection. He says the only thing he's targeted are helium balloons, which he equipped with small electric motors and propellers to make it more sporting.

Everything, including a FPV camera, is mounted under the UAV, protected by aluminum sheets with ventilation holes.

We suppose it was only a matter of time. DARPA will probably be recruiting this guy before long.

(Image from YouTube Video)

FMI: YouTube Video https://youtu.be/YWSKN9V754g