Posted by Bob on 9/20/2007, 7:23 am That these miniature hovercraft are now on the market as inexpensive toys, indicates that in short order, governments will be able to fill the skies with millions upon millions of these spy devices, networked together with other surveillance devices on the ground. Say hello to the brave new world. http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/09/british-polices.html As the video below shows, its something of a contrast to the Honeywell craft we looked at earlier on in the week. It's battery powered, so it's quieter -- apparently at 350 feet it is rarely noticed from the ground -- but more limited in terms of performance. Although it might seem flimsy, the video shows how stable it is in flight. It is said to be quite rugged and can return to base even if it loses two of its four rotor blades. One unusual feature is a speaker so that police can give instructions to those on the ground. The video style is also a contrast. It contains some footage shot from a Microdrone, which gives an impressive display of its powers. Zooming in on a sunbather in a bikini as a demonstration is not likely to allay fears about how intrusive this technology might be. And the ability to hover outside a window and peer in is one which is equally open to use and abuse. Using these devices for military purposes is one thing, but when the police have them the discussion is completely different. Although in principle it won't allow them to spy on anything that couldn't already be seen from a helicopter, small and cheap MAVs are likely to be much more common. And, crucially, unlike a helicopter you will not be able to tell when one is watching you.
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The site below contains a you-tube video which demonstrates the amazing capabilities of current surveillance technology. And the device being shown is primitive, using only optical video. Much more detailed observations can be used using infrared and electromagnetic emissions detection.
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