The Future Of Drones In America

Forbes ^ | 12/13/11 | Kashmir Hill

[Jean S]

Earlier this year, a North Dakota sheriff was on the search for six missing cows. He turned up with a warrant at a family ranch, but was chased off by someone with a rifle, reports the Los Angeles Times. So he called in back-up, including a drone from Border Patrol, to search the family’s 3,000-acre ranch for the armed suspects. The drone used its sensors to find them and to determine they were unarmed. Police then arrested the family of six, marking the first known use of a drone to arrest U.S. citizens, reports the Times. (Afterwards, I assume the drone returned to keeping a close eye on the Canadian border.)

While drones are in heavy use in the wars abroad, their use in the States is rare, because of federal restrictions on air space. Commercial use is virtually forbidden, and less than 300 certificates of authorization have been issued to government entities to take drones for a whirl. The Federal Aviation Association, though, has announced that it plans to revisit its restrictions in the spring of 2012. That means it could be much easier to fly drones in the U.S. as soon as 2013 or 2014. What will that mean? Who will use them?

[Steely Tom]

Sometime in the next ten years, or even the next five years, small UAVs will be part of every traffic stop. You can expect to be observed by one or more small camera-equipped drones that will position themselves around your car any time you’re pulled over. They will be semi-autonomous, will station keep under high-wind conditions. They will be able to stay with a car that tries to run.

We shall see whether, and how soon, they carry lethal weapons.

[mylife]

Eye in the sky

[MeganC]

I don’t see what’s stopping the cops from buying something like this: http://www.quadrocopter.us/

[EGPWS]

Sometime in the next ten years, or even the next five years, small UAVs will be part of every traffic stop.

And we can thank our great great grandchildren for paying for it.

[Mortrey]

Drones: They make for GREAT target practice!

[MeganC]

Of course, such a development opens up new markets for electromagnetic pulse weapons and for broad band radio frequency jammers.

[presidio9]

Sometime in the next ten years, or even the next five years, small UAVs will be part of every traffic stop. You can expect to be observed by one or more small camera-equipped drones that will position themselves around your car any time you’re pulled over. They will be semi-autonomous, will station keep under high-wind conditions. They will be able to stay with a car that tries to run.

We shall see whether, and how soon, they carry lethal weapons.

[Paladin2]

Cameras already apparently fall into the category of “weapons”, especially when used by private citizens in public spaces.

[Paladin2]

Drones are really not in a separate class from piloted airplanes used to catch speeders (for decades) (and marijuana grow operations).

[Bobalu]

We are already at the point where tech savvy hobbyists can create and operate drones.

I’m surprised we don’t hear of them being used to transport drugs.

It’s not a black art anymore.

[Enough is ENOUGH]

“A professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has already launched a “drone journalism lab” to contemplate drones ‘as tools for journalists’ in the U.S.”

During the interim period, journalists will continue relying on ‘political correctness’ ‘as tools for journalists’ to control public opinion in the U.S. ...

[Ronin]

A clarification on the Japanese “drones”, if I may. What this guy is really talking about are radio controlled helicopters — essentially beefed up, specially equipped versions of the same thing you buy at a high-end hobby shop. Cool birds, actually.

They are practical in Japan because farmland is often scattered into nooks and crannies, with small farms even appearing right in the middle of cities themselves.

It’s just much easier and cheaper to drive a truck next to the land, fire up the baby whirlybird and dust off a half acre than it is to hire a manned crop-duster.

[dog breath]

While drones for cops seems like the type of tech toy that every gadget loving police department would want most police won't be able to afford them. It is like those expensive police helicopters, or CSI labs the really big city departments or the State Police might have them but the Tula City boys won't be able to afford them. Many smaller police departments barely can afford to gas up the rundown patrol cars and have somewhat working radios. Our liberty will be kept safe by the inefficiency of life. I have always remembered a quote from someone who had lived under the old Soviet system that if it was efficient it would of been unbearable. As technology takes away our freedom every year our best friends sadly might be the lack of funds to maintain or buy gadgets. The Feds are another problem however, they might just print more money for expensive toys. Perhaps if the people of this country make it an issue we might get some restrictions on these things but since people have gone along with traffic cameras I am doubtful.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Hellfire missiles will not be far behind.

[Red_Devil 232]

Here is a nice video of the original MikroKopter

Cool stuff

http://vimeo.com/6194911

[PLMerite]

“I’m surprised we don’t hear of them being used to transport drugs.”

I think they’re already using RC planes for that, don’t know what advantage a drone would have.

[RedMDer]

Yep.

[Selmore]

Goodbye Posse Comitatus Act of 1878

[Theoria]

Yeah, Guys have been making them for years. I'm surprised there isn't more stuff out there. Lot's of possibilities.

Military drones and such will by scifi material, unreal.

DIY Drone. Civilian Drone operated at Polish Riots 12-11-2011