sa to buy drone fleet - $200,000

[DiscoStu]

news The South Australian police force has gone to market to buy a fleet of aerial drones to assist it with surveillance operations, as controversy continues to swirl around the use of the technology in Australia’s skies and whether it endangers residents and/or invades their privacy.

The drone initiative was unveiled by South Australian Police Minister Michael O’Brien in late June this year. At the time, O’Brien said the so-called ‘unmanned aerial vehicles’ represented a “cost-effective solution for a range of policing operations”, giving police a “significant advantage during incidents and operations”, especially in situations where convential aircraft such as helicopters could not be used. SA Police was expected to buy four standard quadcopters to assist with its operations, at a total cost of around $200,000.

http://delimiter.com.au/2013/11/06/sa-police-buys-drone-fleet/

i hear the vic pso's are not achieving their aim, maybe if vicgov buys drones for every train station they'd be more effective?

i for one would feel much safer with 15 or so nano-drones buzzing up and down the platforms

 

[El Presidente Hillbillios]

they probably wouldnt live stream info would they?

I done a bit of clay pigeon in my time

[tarenna]

I done a bit of clay pigeon in my time

Sounds like good practice to me.

[Snowfella]

Be suprised if they didn't mate. Hell for under a grand I could go out any buy a quad rotor with built in camera that will live stream to my iphone, sure the range isn't that impressive at only 300 meters but add some more money and you would be shocked at what you can get!

[Foo]

they probably wouldnt live stream info would they?

Undoubtedly yes. At that price tag they are also likely to dispense ice and make toast.

[GoOnThen]

I have one that streams or records high resolution video and takes stills. Front and underneath cameras. Controlled by Ipod and cost around 350 so defiantly doable for the money they are talking.

Cheers

Got

[Anodyne]

I done a bit of clay pigeon in my time

That was my first thought too. I'm calling it now, drone-shooting to become an Olympic sport by 2024.

[GoOnThen]

With the right quadcopter and person controlling it just about any thing is possible

http://vimeo.com/72070361

http://vimeo.com/31916540

Cheers

Got

Edited November 7, 2013 by GoOnThen

[GoOnThen]

There are many impressive vids around

 

 

Cheers

Got

Edited November 7, 2013 by GoOnThen

[Sallubrious]

I believe NSW could already be using drones. I've never heard any public announcements and I don't know to what extent but it seems they are active.

In the recent bushfires a RFS worker lit a fire and they had video evidence of his car leaving the scene and going all the way home. The footage semed to have been taken from something with much less stability than a helicopter or aeroplane so my first though was that it was taken from a drone.

Drones, quantum computers, robots. It's like watching the scenario from terminator unfold before our eyes.

[Anodyne]

I wonder how long it'll be before they start mounting tasers on the damned things.

[Sallubrious]

I wonder how long it'll be before they start mounting tasers on the damned things.

I was just saying to my mrs - it won't be long before they are armed. With the new gestalt of police driven legislation it will be the logical next step.

Humans against machines.

[DiscoStu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbjt3OZydg

of course it'll fire rubber bullets, for safety

[Sallubrious]

I just did a websearch on drones NSW and I got heaps of hits, here's a few.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/10/a-drones-eye-view-of-the-nsw-fires/

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/drones-dull-the-drudgery-of-aussie-farming/story-fni0cx12-1226729554517

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mystery-drone-collides-with-sydney-harbour-bridge-20131004-2uzks.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-19/farmers-call-to-stop-drones-on-private-land-without-permission/4829636

It seems all our states have been considering using drones for a while. This is from the land newspaper 12th September 2012

http://www.theland.com.au/news/metro/national/general/privacy-watchdog-urges-debate-on-aerial-drones/2623431.aspx

Several law enforcement agencies around Australia are believed to be investigating the use of drones in their operations — following adoption by police in the United States — but none except Queensland Police would confirm this officially. Victoria Police hosted a conference in Melbourne this year with police from other states to discuss drone use.

[lhb2444]

I wonder how long it'll be before they start mounting tasers on the damned things.

DARPA is way ahead of you Anodyne.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/11/drone-lasers/

"DARPA, the Department of Defense’s research agency, awarded Northrop Grumman $14.6 million and Lockheed Martin $11.4 million in contracts for the effort, according to Military & Aerospace Electronics. Called “Project Endurance,” the research will “develop technology for pod-mounted lasers to protect a variety of airborne platforms from emerging and legacy electro-optical IR guided surface-to-air missiles,” according to DARPA’s 2014 budget request."

[Anodyne]

^^^

I was going to "like" your post, lhb2444, but no, no, I can't really say that I like this development at all...

Edited November 8, 2013 by Anodyne

[Francois le Danque]

 

Let me tell you this in closin'.
I know we might seem imposin',
But trust me if we ever show in your section.
Believe me it's for your own protection.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Frank leDank

[Snowfella]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/drones-join-queenslands-war-on-weeds-20131108-2x5cy.html

[Francois le Danque]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/drones-join-queenslands-war-on-weeds-20131108-2x5cy.html

I think the S at the end of the title is a mistake...