-
NATO deploys airship to Afghanistan
NATO forces in Afghanistan deploy an airship to support security efforts in the war-torn country; the airship hovers several hundred feet above ground, using sensors to detect IEDs
-
-
Mississippi company develops elevated acoustic sensor
Acoustic sensors are typically located on the ground; a Mississippi company developed an elevated acoustic sensor that can be mounted on a balloon; the sensor can be combined with a camera to create a visual and auditory sensor
-
-
Tiny Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) to help in in-door surveillance
California company develops tiny UAV (10 gram, a 7.5-centimeter wingspan) that hovers and climbs with flapping wings; the NAV can explore caves and other hiding places, relaying GPS data and images to base
-
-
Competition for U.S. Marines' supply robocopter down to two
The U.S. Marines are looking for unmanned supply helicopters that can deliver ten tons of supplies across distances of 150 miles in 24 hours; they also have to be able to hover at high altitudes (say, up in the Hindu Kush mountains)
-
-
"Point-and-toss" UAV in field demonstration
Florida-based IATech used the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s biannual field demonstration to show its point-and-toss UAV: the unit measures 3 feet across and is thrown like a paper airplane; it costs only about $25,000
-
-
DA-42 UAV tested
Israeli Aeronautics Defense Systems tests new UAV; the system can stay airborne for up to 28 hours with a 900-pound payload
-
-
China says it has installed 2.75 million CCTVs since 2003
Government plans to expand the surveillance system into the largely neglected countryside, and marry it to a face recognition database
-
-
U.K. authorities made more than 500,000 surveillance requests last year
U.K. police, councils, and the intelligence services made about 1,500 surveillance requests every day last year; this is the annual equivalent to one in every 78 people being targeted
-
-
First Israeli business delegation visits Indonesia
The Indonesian military wanted to buy Israel UAVs in order better to patrol the vast archipelago, but the Indonesian House of Representatives rejected the plan
-
-
ImageID tracks and traces cargo -- for better business and tighter security
ImageID’s Visidot system uses high-powered cameras and lighting that scan tags and barcodes more quickly and efficiently than hand-held scanning systems do — and at a much lower price than RFID systems
-
-
Dayton's new UAV center receives initial funding
UAVs are becoming more and more ubiquitous in military and homeland security missions; Dayton, Ohio — a neighbor to Wright-Patterson Air Force base — wants to capitalize on the UAV trend, and it opens a new UAV technology center
-
-
Biometrics tunnel helps identify individuals' unique walking patterns
The University of Southampton’s biometric tunnel provides the technology to analyze the way people walk as a unique identifier; university researchers have developed a technology which captures the unique walking patterns, and then characterizes and records them to a database
-
-
Aurora shows new, more lethal hovering killer drone
Innovative UAV company shows a new drone capable of carrying four Hellfire missiles at speeds of up to 400 knots (the Predator carries just two Hellfires and cruises at just 70 knots)
-
-
U.K. undecided on UAV purchase
The U.K. Defense Ministry’s Dabinett ISR program has two core elements: One is aimed at better exploiting what is already collected by existing platforms; the other is a “deep and persistent” collection capability-to be addressed by a long-endurance UAV; but which UAV?
-
-
Maryland transportation chief halts audio surveillance plans
Maryland Transportation Administration considered using listening devices on its buses and trains for recording conversations of passengers and employees; acting director of the agency suspends plan
-
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.