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Build Your Own Camera, Launch It Like a Grenade
angry tapir writes "Meet the Firefly. Israeli defense contractor Rafael Armament Development Authority calls it a 'revolutionary concept in tactical intelligence,' but really it's a wireless camera that's shot 500 feet in the air by a grenade launcher. And if a couple of hackers at the Defcon hacking convention get their way, soon anyone will be able to buy this type of military grade technology for only US$500."
This is a great business model. Sell a product where your clients will just launch it away and immediately have to buy another one.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
"This is a great business model. Sell a product where your clients will just launch it away and immediately have to buy another one. "
Yawn. Arms merchants have been doing it for years. "Notice you just fired your last RPG. Want to buy another one?"
Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
One simple reason why this new camera is so awesome: speed. Try shooting something out of the sky when it's moving at 2 - 4 mph. Not that hard (heck, a skeet it moving a lot faster than that). Besides, try getting it 500 feet into enemy territory in 8 seconds. Something shooting at the speed of a grenade launcher has such obvious superiorities. Granted, the whole 'one time use' thing kinda sucks, but they're the military; they're used to using it once and replacing it.
Although I do have to say... you're totally right when it comes to civilian uses. I really can't think of a time when civilians would benefit more from the firefly than from the UAV you linked to.