'Microdrone', the police's tiny eye in the sky

Telegraph ^ | 03/08/08 | Tom Chivers and agencies

[TigerLikesRooster]

'Microdrone', the police's tiny eye in the sky

By Tom Chivers and agencies

Last Updated: 2:14am GMT 08/03/2008

In size and appearance it may resemble a toy - and the fact that it can squirt a jet of water on to unsuspecting people's heads may add to that impression - but this is in fact a £25,000 hi-tech crime-fighting machine.

A remote-controlled and almost silent miniature helicopter, the "Microdrone" can act as a police commander's eye in the sky, capturing images with both a video and an infra-red camera and instantly transmitting it to operators on the ground up to 500 yards away.

Barely the size of a dustbin lid - around two feet across - the tiny drone is nonetheless armed to the hilt with crime-fighting technology, including a squirt-gun which can fire jets of a liquid called "SmartWater" which can be identified by police.

British Transport Police (BTP) have been using the Microdrone in their operation to crack down on metal thefts on the railways.

A spokesman for BTP said: "Although it may look simple, it's actually a complex bit of kit, capable of many things.

"There's only one being used at the moment as it is an expensive device which costs several thousands of pounds."

While police have welcomed the device as the latest tool in the war on crime, concerns have been raised that it may be used to intrude on privacy.

Bloggers have pointed out that a silent, tiny machine capable of focusing its cameras on objects more than 350 feet away could be abused both by the authorities and private owners, who could use it as a "peeping tom" device.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Huntress]

It looks like the progeny of the folding helicoptor (Little Nellie) James Bond flew in “You Only Live Twice” and the giant ping pong ball that was always chasing Patrick McGoohan in “The Prisoner.”

[Crim]

“PULL!”

BLAM! BLAM!

[maine-iac7]

and can squirt water at bystanders

- thousands of dollars for a machine to pee on people...

[John Jorsett]

Looks just like the Draganflyer from rctoys.com.

[lightman]

and can squirt water at bystanders

- thousands of dollars for a machine to pee on people...

If it is capable of squirting water it can be used to deploy other liquids--some merely irritating, some deadly. Use your imagination.

[RayChuang88]

Oh great. We’re going to have a spate of UFO reports pretty soon from these strange-looking flying drones.

[Defiant]

Silent but deadly, the Flying Aerial Reconnaisance Tricopter, or FART, patrols the skies, searching for Brits who are speeding or committing hate crimes against peaceful Asian citizens.

[MaxMax]

Dumb, Stupid coppers. That was not funny

[Dad yer funny]

ah-h-h-h , . nice post Huntress

{{ “we’re a Great Lot , the FR class of ‘04 !!!” , .. .. somehow managed to keep our head down , during TheBugZapperThread , *grin* }}

[who_would_fardels_bear]

"and the giant ping pong ball that was always chasing Patrick McGoohan in 'The Prisoner'."

Thanks for the memory ...

[neverdem]

When you have pics from Getty or Corbis, the way to view them is with a link.

Thanks for the ping.

[maine-iac7]

If it is capable of squirting water it can be used to deploy other liquids--some merely irritating, some deadly. Use your imagination.

Oh great. Make my day...now it's not just mosquitoes and black flies - I gotta worry about the drones!

[mo]

Well no wonder the Queen won’t let her subjects own guns...can’t have them plonking away at the at the sheriffs toys...

[Huntress]

Thank you. Did you notice that it zapped Blofeld’s cat (see post # 10)?