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US Department of Homeland Security Looking For a Few Good Drones
coondoggie writes "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security this week issued a call for unmanned systems makers to participate in a program that will ultimately determine their safety and performance for use in first responder, law enforcement and border security situations. In a twist that will certainly raise some eyebrows, the results of the program — called the Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) — will remain unavailable to the public, which, considering how involved the actual public may be with these drones is unfortunate."
Fixed that for you.
Can't be much more than a decade away, at this rate...
'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
US Department of Homeland Security Looking For a Few Good Drones
Try the Phandroid Forums.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
The Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) — will remain unavailable to the public
But of course, how foolish to assume otherwise. Only corporate whores (large defense contractors) who can afford to lobby and make enormous contributions to PACs and election campaigns would be entitled to such.
Security Knowledge __ Electronic _
Our home-grown Terrorist Organization chartered with terrorizing the non-Federal Governmental citizens of the United States of America, Obama's most beloved agency, gets greedy.
The best thing about all this is I'll probably be dead from old age before they get too popular. Is this really what We the People want? I sure as fuck don't.
Robotic Aircraft for the Public's Enhanced Safety (RAPES). Just like these agencies do to civil liberties.
So, if my company already builds a drone that is more capable than anything my competitors can offer, but I already market and sell it to the public, I will be disqualified from participating? Or I will have to withdraw my product from my existing markers?
What a shame. But my overseas markets will more than make up for the small amount of business I could hope to see from DHS.
Stinger.
For when ye granpappy's olde side-by-side 12-gauge isn't enough.
The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
I wouldn't bet against it
(TAARREEO) Turrets Armed Against Roving Robotic Espionage with Exploding Ordinance.
Shai Schticks:"You don't make peace with friends, you make peace with enemies"
"Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS)"
Ah, "Public Safety"! Can't you just see it now? Robot helicopters intelligently lifting flood victims from rooftops, rescuing kittens from treetops, spraying killer bee swarms with sleep inducing chemicals. They'll come to the aid of lost hikers, climbers and avalanche victims. They will patrol for lost boaters and surveil and protect tagged endangered species from predators- human or other. Their eye in the sky will alert emergency services of serious auto accidents, fires, or weather conditions. They will survey bridge structures and other critical infrastructure for damage, weakness and risk of failure. Their sensors will give us early warning of radiation leaks, chemical spills, dangerous pollutants, and excess allergens.
They will be our Public Safety angel!
I'm sure this is what our beneficent government has in mind, right?
...omphaloskepsis often...
When I die, I'm getting my body cremated (just in case).
A remarkable number of people completely trust their government. I'm still not sure who these strange folks are, but I regularly get the argument (for example) that the thoroughly benevolent and just TSA is using naked body scanners not to enrich Michael Chertoff or give agents cheap thrills but to protect us from terrorism (number of terrorists caught using these scanners: 0).
I am officially gone from
how long before you cannot turn the volume on the tv down?
Much like how the U.S. government has seemingly gone over the top with airline security, drones is likely going be the next security threat requiring a very aggressive response to protect buildings, and more to the point, the power-elite from assassination.
To digress a bit, airline security seems over the top until one realizes it's not to protect the passengers, but rather the important structures full of important people the planes could potentially fly into.
I expect likewise will be the response to drones when some baddies are able to easily acquire some and start killing important people.
Even the smallest drones with on-board guidance, perhaps combined with facial recognition and other tools, are more than adequate to deliver a deadly strike (utilizing a firearm, explosives, etc) to kill rich, powerful people, even in relatively secure compounds, which generally rely on walls, guards, and cameras providing security - none of those are much use against a fast flying, relatively quiet drone.
But some goddamn wookie keeps blowing up all of mine!
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
America. Love it or leave it.
Really? Safety? That's the angle they're working?
If there's anything I've learned in life with the many jobs I've had and the situations I've been in, safety is a secondary concern of Americans. When the DHS requests something like this, it should raise some eyebrows. After all, they groped my junk at the airport last I was there. Privacy is of no consequence to them... in the name of "safety".
The game.
Ransacking Americans, Pretext Security
Rogue Authoritarians for Perpetual Surveillance
Royalty Aerially Patrolling Serfs
Rapacious Airborne Police Squads
Rapidly Ascending Poop Slinger ?
Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012
Some jokes just write themselves...
There are several completely different missions for different types of UAVs. The common problem is airspace coordination, which seems to be what this is mostly about.
First, there's a role for little model-sized RC helicopters and quadrotors for local fire and police work. This is mostly for situations when you really need to look down on an emergency scene, or fly into it. As long as they stay below 500 feet AGL and under the weight limits for ultralights, the FAA doesn't regulate them. In terms of cost-effectiveness, those will probably be the most useful UAVs.
Police departments would like something as useful as a police helicopter with camera and spotlight, but not as expensive to operate. Those need to rise above the 500 foot level, so they need sensors that can detect other aircraft. This is the current big problem - operating UAVs in airspace under "see and be seen" rules. No UAV can yet do that. Police UAVs don't need huge range, but do need to hover, or at least circle in reasonably tight circles.
The border patrol people want something more like existing combat UAVs, with lots of range and good sensors. The drug enforcement people probably want something quiet with really good sensors. The main problem there will be to keep those efforts from becoming a money drain. Those guys do not need Global Hawks.
"Looking for a few good drones."
Sorry, there was a glut in S.C. recently, but it's over now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07fTsF5BiSM
Those drones, however, are still believing this stuff.
In his own words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWVL7TptQ24
I just remembered a connection.
Past patterns repeat themselves. The Nazis used the V1 flying bomb against England during WWII.
Unmanned jet planes which flew over the target territory and then dropping and exploding.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-1_flying_bomb
Are you kidding? With the rate that they've been buying drones (not to mention local police departments and the military), the only way you'll be dead before they "get too popular" is if you're already in your mid 70s.
And, like the best of DHS to date, these will be used to terrorize evil teenagers engaging in low-level copyright infringement and people exercising their right to assemble and protest.
I did a little research and discovered I own the airspace above my property up to a certain altitude.
I wonder how many balloons I can float over my house. Hrmm...does acetylene float? How about when mixed with helium?
eom
The vision of robot coming to help you reminded me of Robert Sheckley's Prospector’s Special
I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
Just wondering in a strictly theoretical sense, with no desire or call for myself nor anyone else to try.
But.
I do wonder what size of laser would be required to damage their optics. Bonus: I doubt drones do too many 'Crazy Ivan' evasive maneuvers.
That's easy. All DHS needs to do is borrow a few from some of the busier DMV offices.
"the results of the program ... will remain unavailable to the public" So the program to keep us under RAPS is under wraps?
Well hell, if they want drones, lets have drones. Lets have Civilian drones!. We can follow the cops, feds, congressmen, celebrities, all from the safety and comfort of a computer terminal while a 1,000$ DIY drone snaps pictures, sends video, etc. We could do stuff like route police patrols on google maps, follow government drones around and see what they are up to. Drones could deliver pizza and chinese food, dry cleaning, heck, the sky really would be the limit !! Drones for everybody!!!!!