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Flying robot keeps the streets safe

Posted May 21, 2007 3:24 PM

From SCI FI Tech:

In They Live, one of the greatest movies of our time, Rowdy Roddy Piper takes a couple of potshots at a flying spy drone designed to keep tabs on the unsuspecting populace. Fiction is soon to turn to reality when the British government deploys these flying drones over the skies of Merseyside, U.K. Unlike some other flying security 'bots, this drone doesn't need a human master to tell it where to go thanks to the built-in GPS tracking system. The drone is designed to spot evildoers from a height 550 yards and once crime has been obliterated, it can also monitor traffic. Built by microdrones GmbH, the md4-200 is only a couple of feet across, weighs less than three pounds, and is nearly silent when hovering above you recording your activities. The downside is it can only fly for 20 minutes at a time before needing to land for recharging.

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#1

Re: Flying robot keeps the streets safe

05/21/2007 11:07 PM

What's the bag limit on these critters?

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#2

Re: Flying robot keeps the streets safe

05/21/2007 11:16 PM

How 'bout we start using these on our politicians?

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#3

Re: Flying robot keeps the streets safe

05/22/2007 2:00 AM

Yeah, except that when surveying politicians, it might be a good idea to arm the drones in case the politicians' bodyguards try to shoot them down.

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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Flying robot keeps the streets safe

05/22/2007 10:13 AM

Good thinking.

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#5
In reply to #3

Re: Flying robot keeps the streets safe

05/22/2007 11:13 AM

On the plus side, the thermals above politicians would permit soaring and greatly extend the hover time! (Thermal: a rising plume of warm air, sought by sailplane pilots)

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#6
In reply to #5

Re: Flying robot keeps the streets safe

05/22/2007 11:20 AM

Yes, but they're full of another kind of material that would draw a cloud of flies; and this would obstruct the view.

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