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Just in time for the holidays, drones are coming to town. Yes, Castle Rock now has its very own store featuring these flying technology marvels. Multicopter Warehouse is one of a handful of retail stores in Colorado that will allow customers to not only see, touch and fly different drone models, but also to purchase one to take home.
No matter what your concerns may be regarding innovation vs. privacy, it seems inevitable that drone technology is here to stay. Over the past few years, prices have come down with many companies jumping on the bandwagon to manufacture the product and meet public demand. They have seemingly made it very easy for any not-so-tech-savvy person to own one. Consumers’ ability to now afford what they wanted was one of the reasons the drone storefront became a reality locally.
“Originally it was going to be a side business,” commented co-owner, Kerry…..“But sales have been so overwhelming it (a store) made sense.” Besides civilian interest, they have had several hard inquiries from local Fire and Police Departments as well as search and rescue organizations. They want to use the technology to help minimize injuries and fatalities in dangerous situations. Farmers are also impressed with the possibilities of how drones could help better monitor crops, hence yielding healthier produce.
But while many are excited about how the technology can serve to improve work, save time and cut costs, some are concerned with how drone use will affect privacy. However, likening the drone motor to sounding like a ‘swarm of bees,’ he sees that as one of the factors that would keep someone from taking a sneak peek without your knowledge. “The reality is that you can’t get any better view or picture than you could from your smartphone,” Kerry continued, “If you want to spy on someone, you’re gonna have to try to be more covert than what our drones are capable of.”
But the growing popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has concerned citizens pushing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to protect them with more tangible rules and regulations. Though a handful of commercial entities are being granted the OK, they are now enforcing rules that require drone pilots to be licensed. Likewise, the FAA has worked to establish no-fly zones across the U.S. including: airports, military sites and local, state and national parks. “It really comes down to common sense and responsibility. You have to be cognizant of your local rules.”
As the governing powers of the sky try to iron out the wrinkles with drone usage, the world will continue to buy and fly. Multicopter Warehouse has opened its doors to the public in downtown Castle Rock and is currently working with the Chamber to organize an official ribbon cutting for the town’s newest retail store. And they want us to stay tuned for local demos to stir up excitement among locals. “The more community involvement we have, the more easily our product will be understood and accepted.”
“It gives me a new perspective with my photography that I simply can’t get from the ground,” says Nick Lucey, local photographer and owner of NickLucey.com. “I love the reaction that people have to my aerial photographs. They really seem to be drawn to seeing local landmarks from a whole new vantage point.”
– A special thanks to Nick Lucey of NickLucey.com for flying his drone at our house to capture these scenarios.
What do you think? Join in on the conversation by leaving your comments below!
For those interested in drones you can check out the Multicopter Warehouse at multicopterwarehouse.com.
Can I shoot the drone if it enters air space above my house? lol…I think it is possible this would occur.
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