I tend to see them as more of a defensive tool than an offensive tool from a prepping standpoint. I can't really visualize a non-government group flying through my semi-rural wooded area looking for targets of opportunity. We're far enough away from metro areas that well-organized bands of zombies aren't high on my list of things to worry about. I'm more concerned about small groups of desperate low-lifes who are the same ones doing petty theft now.
However, I can visualize using one myself to get above the trees and doing slow 360s to see what may be headed my way. I have thought about that a number of times... we are now in the time of year where I cannot easily see beyond the boundaries of my own property because of trees and warm weather vegetation. More than once I've wondered what some random daytime noise was. Even the road isn't visible around the curve in my driveway until I walk almost all the way down to it. I have also thought about mounting a wireless video camera on an RC truck to drive around the property to keep an eye on things. Just another thing on the to-do list.
But, that also works to my advantage - most people are reluctant to open the gate and come up a blind (they can't see around a curve) 500 foot driveway to get to us. That might be one case where a small group might use a little quad copter - or RC truck of their own - to see if it is worth coming up the driveway. But, they could learn the same thing by quietly walking up the driveway and looking for themselves. I guess that's why perimeter defenses become very important.
Wally
However, I can visualize using one myself to get above the trees and doing slow 360s to see what may be headed my way. I have thought about that a number of times... we are now in the time of year where I cannot easily see beyond the boundaries of my own property because of trees and warm weather vegetation. More than once I've wondered what some random daytime noise was. Even the road isn't visible around the curve in my driveway until I walk almost all the way down to it. I have also thought about mounting a wireless video camera on an RC truck to drive around the property to keep an eye on things. Just another thing on the to-do list.
But, that also works to my advantage - most people are reluctant to open the gate and come up a blind (they can't see around a curve) 500 foot driveway to get to us. That might be one case where a small group might use a little quad copter - or RC truck of their own - to see if it is worth coming up the driveway. But, they could learn the same thing by quietly walking up the driveway and looking for themselves. I guess that's why perimeter defenses become very important.
Wally