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Insitu's ScanEage succesfully meets Navy's heavy fuel requirements
Twenty-eight hour flight, a record for the craft, proves the heavy-fuel concept to a Navy interested both in safety and improved logistics; cold-weather flight overcomes traditional temperature challenges with heavy fuel
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U.S. authorities cite Web cams as a serisous threat
Many airports and other critical infrastructure permit on-line viewing of the premises; some even allow a pan and zoom feature; security experts worry that such may make an opportune method of reconnoisance
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DARPA seeks next generation hemispherical optical sensor arrays
Winning research proposal will sport a 120-degree field of view and a speed of 60 frames per second; ability to take images in the visible, near-infrared, and shortwave-infrared optical spectra is critical; organic and inorganic materials will be considered; DARPA encourages industry collaboration
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Terrorists use Google Earth to plan attacks
British troops in Iraq find satellite maps in insurgent safehouses; precise geographic coordinates inadvertently assist America’s enemies; governments continue to negotiate with Google over coverage
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ICRC delivers first responder vehicles to Michigan National Guard
Heavy-duty truck is first to incorporate IRCS’s national guard vehicle information system for interoperability and networking; flexible communications, NBS detection, and nighttime surveillance among the features of this interesting vehicle
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Israel Aircraft Industries to launch new missile-hunting UAV
With a wingspan of 110 feet, the Eitan UAV is designed for high altitide, long-haul flights; attached cameras and missiles intended to stop ballistic missiles on the launching pad; trial flights begin this week
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Bureau of Land Management to deploy UAV to Idaho
Agency hopes to use the unnamed craft to keep track of vegetation and recreational areas; monitoring land-use permits a major impetus; local libertarian object to government interference
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Hafmynd sells two GAVIA AUVs to undisclosed militaries
Icelandic firm a leader — ask Frost and Sullivan — in autonomous underwater vehicles; U.S. Navy SPAWAR just one previous customer for this disruptive technology; vehicle’s sensor flexibility a major selling point
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HISS Cyber Tracker goes solar
GPS vehicle tracking and monitoring system no longer requires a dedicated power source; improvement expands company’s access to the RV market, among others; full production expected by the end of the year
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Chicago security planners go too far
City residents draw the line on public surveillance when it is incorporated into public art; Crown Fountain installation removed; Americans remain ambivalent about public CCTV
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West Virginia city offers CCTV rebates for downtown businesses
Concerned about vandalism, city offers shopkeepers a $1,500 rebate on prenegotiated four-camera systems; unique arrangement allows police full access to the cameras and attached DVRs
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ViaLogy and Boeing develop detection system emulating bugs' eyes
The most advanced science-based companies try to emulate to vision architecture of humble insects and reptiles in order to improve precise detction applications
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SF deploys license plate scanners to fighting parking scofflaws
Onboard system is programmed to locate cars sporting five or more outstanding parking tickets; violators immediately get the boot; emerging technology finds many friends in law enforcement
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New vortex generators to help UUVs dock
Squid and octopi inspire Colorado researchers to develop a more effective design for unmanned underwater vehicles; no need to trade litheness for docking stability; enhanced craft can even parallel park
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Marines abandon Dragon Eye UAV for the Raven B
Although the Dragon Eye has seen its share of successes, high cost and inability to handle strong winds sent the Marines back to the drawing board; AeroVironment’s Raven B, already popular with the Army, looks to take up the mission at lower cost
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More headlines
The long view
Using Drone Swarms to Fight Forest Fires
Forest fires are becoming increasingly catastrophic across the world, accelerated by climate change. Researchers are using multiple swarms of drones to tackle natural disasters like forest fires.
Testing Cutting-Edge Counter-Drone Technology
Drones have many positive applications, bad actors can use them for nefarious purposes. Two recent field demonstrations brought government, academia, and industry together to evaluate innovative counter-unmanned aircraft systems.