Developing: Bridge Collapses Near Seattle…Unknown Injuries…See the Photos

Watch Today’s BlazeCast With Your Questions, Comments & Live Chat!

Technology

Alarming Drone Crash on College Campus Turns Out to Be an Elaborate Hoax

Dec. 7, 2012 7:30pm Liz Klimas

Earlier this week, a drone appeared to have crashed on the University of California-San Diego campus, causing a stir among students and staff. The so-called UC Center for Drone Policy and Ethics stated it would hold a public meeting Thursday to discuss the drone’s malfunction and crash.

University of California San Diego Art Installation Stages Drone Crash

(Photo: UC Center for Drone and Policy Ethics)

All was not as it seemed though. Everything from the crushed metal fashioned to look like an unmanned aerial vehicle to the press release for the public meeting were a hoax.

The first clue could have been that the meeting would take place at the college’s Calit2 Gallery. According to NBC San Diego, the whole setup was part of an art installation called “Drones at Home.”

“I’m sure some of [the students] probably did think it was real,” artist and professor Ricardo Dominguez said, according to NBC, “but that’s one of the practices of new media art – what we call minor simulation. It creates an event that is difficult to understand as either real or not real.”

Even the center issuing the phony press release was made up to be part of the installation as well. Would you have believed this statement made by Guerne N. Ka, principle investigator for the center that was in the press release?:

“We understand that the recent drone crash incident has caused alarm amongst students and staff surrounding the research and use of drones on the UCSD campus and surrounding areas, and very much wanted to take this opportunity to educate the public about drone technologies and local deployments. While drone crashes are rare and another malfunction is extremely unlikely, we at the UC Center for Drone Policy and Ethics would also like to take this opportunity to teach basic drone safety techniques that can be practiced on a daily basis to keep ourselves and others safe.”

(Image: UC Center for Drone POlicy and Ethics screenshot)

The year-long installation is meant to raise awareness of drone us on U.S. soil. Dominguez, according to NBC, has concerns about drone use and privacy, but the staged crash was not meant to be a protest but more so to spur conversation.

The campus’ Calit2 gallery specifically takes a look at the relationship between art and technology, according to NBC.

(H/T: Boing Boing)

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (18)

BlessedONE333
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 6:27pm
quote from above ===> professor Ricardo Dominguez said, according to NBC, “but that’s one of the practices of new media art – what we call minor simulation. It creates an event that is difficult to understand as either real or not real.”

yeah because that is what art should be right socialist pig? an event that is difficult to understand and has nothing to do with reality

why are you people paying for your children to be brainwashed by these pagan idiots?

seriously parents and future students – don’t waste your time on anything which is outside of reality because the real world is much more interesting and has REAL value.

how on earth are people like this guy a teacher in California but teaching the bible FACTS are put down and banned? sick sad world = stupid pagans

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Saff SGT
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 5:22pm
If drones invade your privacy shoot them down you have rights use them before we all lose them

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
New.World.Fastfood.Order
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 4:26pm
“UC Center for Drone Policy and Ethics”
lol

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
marssnw
Posted on December 9, 2012 at 5:37am
Is this where NBC and the rest of the left wing media go to school? It seems they are teaching how to make your own falsehood news there. By the way, who goes to school to be a artist????? Thats like going to school to become a bumb. These schools should be cutting funding to the art classes and start contributing more to America’s future. Start teaching real classes like Math and Science. Its no wonder we are falling behind. We have moron “professors” teaching kids “art” instead of things they could actually use in the future. Im not saying art is all bad, but schools should be teaching things that students can actually use outside of school.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- snit3
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 8:51pm
  This is the first thing that came to mind as I read this story=> So THIS is where the MSM go to polish up their BS and misdirection skills. Huh. Joseph Goebbels would be proud.
  
  Report this comment
jimcoyne24
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:34am
“Guerne N. Ka, principle investigator for the center”…that name has to have some meaning. According to Wikipedia, Guernica is best known to those residing outside the Basque region as the scene of the April 26, 1937, Bombing of Guernica, one of the first aerial bombings by Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe which inspired the painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TROONORTH
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:50am
The only ‘drone’ here is the one who came up with this lame idea.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
redfish52
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:09am
Kalifornia….enough said….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
The Giver
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:39pm
‘ New art media which creates an event that is difficult to understand as real or not real’. Sounds like we’ve been getting ART from the main stream media too.

There is truth in the words of Jesus. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Armyof One
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:24pm
Not to mention the Predator is larger than a Cessna. That little pile of sticks is available at any radio control aircraft store.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
shagstar
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:26pm
kinda like most of their professors/teachers,,,,all fake!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RepubliCorp
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:19pm
spam

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
sophiepaul
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:54pm
Part III of the series. The biggest lies grownups tell their children. http://bitly.com/11Ub6Yb

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:45pm
The First drone crash is not going to be over some Commie Hippie College. It is going to be over some Texan’s home and it is going to be full of .30-06 lead.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- db321
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:56pm
  Forget the Drone – isn’t that a UFO parked on top of the Hill.
  
  Report this comment
- TeslanEdison
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 3:09am
  Already happened and it was in Pennsylvania http://www.pa2a.org/thread-shark-drone-shot-down pics of the damaged parts, funny thing is that real news didn’t even blog it or anything, first incident of a drone being shot down by us citizens would be a big deal I would think.
  
  Report this comment
AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:44pm
MSLSD. Weird even if Mathews was a robot, who would believe me now?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
danbarlinmar
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:43pm
uh huh… and that was a weather balloon over Roswell.

that’s a joke… i dont think this is a coverup.

Roswell, though…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.