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Stabilized Cameras for Long-Distance Surveillance

Posted by michael on from the eye-in-the-sky dept.

DrBlake writes "New York Times has an article about new systems used to stabilize cameras hung from aircraft. Apparently they make it possible to see many details at 500 meters or higher. The systems are interesting in themselves and the article raises interesting concerns about what implications the systems have on privacy."

5 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. Encrypted Conversations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I was told [from a reputable source] of the ability to hold a conversation to ground using a helicopter-mounted laser.

    Obviously this secure as any attempt to tap into the conversation would break the beam - revealing the attack attempt.

    All that seems straightforward, but the ability to stabilise and aim a laser from a helicopter [of all places] was a bit mind-boggling.....

    1. Re:Encrypted Conversations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      In my college physics class we made some laser "radios". They were basically full-duplex walkie-talkies, except instead of broadasting in the radio spectrum they were in the visible spectrum.

      The sound quality wasn't very good, but that is because we use a very simple circuit design. Obviously if we had spent a little more money/time it could have sounded much better.

      Search around google and you will find lots of pages describing amateur radio people doing this exact thing (but better than us)

  2. Right on. by BoBaBrain · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The systems are interesting in themselves and the article raises interesting concerns about what implications the systems have on privacy.

    Long range cameras can indeed be an invasion of "My Privacy"(tm). As can telescopes, binoculars, strong reading glasses and eyesight in general.

    I believe the government have used all the above to spy on people at some point.

    --
    I am a Karma Library.
  3. Re:More comments by Zathrus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    We have airplanes with low radar profiles, (stealth) so what will it take for low visible / infrared / UV profiles?

    For the record, stealth planes like the B1, the F-117A, and the F-22 have low radar, IR, and sound profiles. It's not of much use to be near invisible on radar if you show up like a torch on IR, or if the guy in the AAA can track where you're going to be by sound. All of the stealth planes disperse their output through large areas, generally directed upwards (I'd guess that the F-22 does the worst job of this, but that's just a WAG). The sound is similarly baffled, with efforts made toward minimizing disruptive air flow and contrails.

    If you want a low IR profile, just cover yourself in a heat reflective blanket. They've been on the market for years. If it's warm out then you'll need to figure out some way of dumping heat elsewhere though, or else you'll suffocate in your own reflected heat.

    If you want a true camo suit with chameleon like abilities, well, the US Army is researching those. There have been several stories on here about them and powered armor.

  4. Re:Privacy is a myth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    It's still amusing how many people think that their lives are so important that people are spying on them. The reality check for today is that no one cares about 99.99999% of the people in this world. You might think that the Man (tm) is out to get you, but your life is probably irrelevant to all but about a dozen or more people (and this isn't you personally, it's most of the people on this planet).

    It's good to worry about things like this, but let's not all get paranoid that we're being featured on "Enemy of the State" because we're way too damned boring.