Posted on 11/13/2005 5:52:28 PM PST by wagglebee
HONEYWELL is developing a micro flying spy drone -- that would be used for civilian law enforcement!
The device, a hovering robot carrying video cameras and other sensors, is being created and tested at HONEYWELL's Albuquerque, NM plant.
The first round of testing on the drone [MICRO AIR VEHICLE] has been completed, reports Bob Martin of CBS affiliate KRQE.
The battery powered craft can stay in the air for 50-60 minutes at a time, and moves around at up to 55 kilometers an hour.
The Micro Air Vehicle has flown more than 200 successful flights, including flying in a representative urban environment.
"If there is an emergency, you could provide "eyes" on whatever the emergency is, for police or Homeland Security," explains Vaughn Fulton of HONEYWELL.
In the meantime, the U.S. Army has prepared a promotional video showing the craft zooming over war-zone streets.
Drones have been given to the military to test during training exercises.
"It has the same system most fighter jets would have," explains Fulton.
The vehicle, nicknamed "Dragon Eye," will be used for reconnaissance, security and target acquisition operations in open, rolling, complex and urban terrain; it will be equipped with Global Positioning Satellite.
HONEYWELL and government officials are meeting to discuss the status of the project.
Troops in Iraq could get the craft in a year or two.
The spy drone would be deployed for domestic use shortly thereafter.
Developing...
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Because the only way to make it pay for itself is to use it for traffic enforcement, which is where the big money is.
"Why do I have the feeling it would go beyond that........"
Maybe because it always does. I wonder how much of an EMP it would take to bring that little booger down?
I'm sure they would be susceptible to accidents.
definitely, these could be the "HKs" patrolling like in T1!
Must be Sunday night.
As a private pilot I have serious questions....
What are the safeguards that these guys stay out of traffics way?
LOL
Also check out John Carpenter's THEY LIVE, with Rowdy Roddy Piper. Same kinda thing, but worse. Not too awful of a movie, good flick if you like John Carpenter...JFK
By drastically increasing the no fly zones you have to obey.
DUH. That was easy.
What do you wanna bet these will watch us citizens before they ever watch our borders?
yep...that's what I was thinking too; in fact, I know it will be used to track U.S. Citizens and NOT illegal aliens.
Fair warningt to the powers-that-be. I catch one of those things peeking in my bathroom skylight, and I AM taking it out.
The battery powered craft can stay in the air for 50-60 minutes at a time, and moves around at up to 55 kilometers an hour.50 to 60 minutes is not that long a time. They ought to be made with a much bigger fuel capacity so they can stay up all day or night.
Trouble is that the batteries probably constitute a large fraction of the weight of the craft. If by doubling the battery capacity you very nearly double the weight of the whole vehicle, you have to use bigger motors to stay airborne - and gain very little endurance by doing so.
Sooner or later the issue of a reasonable level of privacy within a civil society will have to be addressed at the most basic levels. A future world where automated electronic police hover virtually everywhere like alien mosquitoes watching our every move is a future I want no part of.
Dammit. Now I'll have to line my britches and hat with even MORE tinfoil. That stuff itches!
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