Police test drone spy helicopters
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Police test drone spy helicopters
Just seen this on BBC website. I thought it was April 1st, The pilots must be from Knotty Ash!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...de/6477831.stm
Pilotless helicopters will be tested by police on Merseyside in the fight against anti-social behaviour.
The drone aircraft will keep watch over football matches and trouble hotspots.
Fitted with CCTV cameras and weighing 1kg - about the same as a bag of sugar - they are controlled by officers on the ground.
The force is considering using them to monitor large crowds and to gather evidence from major incidents or areas blighted by anti-social behaviour.
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne said it was something they are interested in using.
"We already have the force helicopter but the drone is smaller. We will have the resources to put several out at any one time.
"We could have one over a firearms incident in one part of the county, for example, and another over crowds at a football match to spot any trouble."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...de/6477831.stm
Pilotless helicopters will be tested by police on Merseyside in the fight against anti-social behaviour.
The drone aircraft will keep watch over football matches and trouble hotspots.
Fitted with CCTV cameras and weighing 1kg - about the same as a bag of sugar - they are controlled by officers on the ground.
The force is considering using them to monitor large crowds and to gather evidence from major incidents or areas blighted by anti-social behaviour.
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne said it was something they are interested in using.
"We already have the force helicopter but the drone is smaller. We will have the resources to put several out at any one time.
"We could have one over a firearms incident in one part of the county, for example, and another over crowds at a football match to spot any trouble."
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Hope they are twin engined 
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I may have missed something here, but how can a remote controlled helicopter with a camera beaming signals to a receiver, be CCTV?
From the CCTV Advisory Service
http://www.cctv-information.co.uk/
How much fun the 'people' will have should they think about popping into their local hobby shop and buying a remote control transmitter complete with a variety of frequency chips!!
From the CCTV Advisory Service
http://www.cctv-information.co.uk/
Introduction to Closed Circuit Television
As the name implies, it is a system in which the circuit is closed and all the elements are directly connected. This is unlike broadcast television where any receiver that is correctly tuned can pick up the signal from the airwaves.
As the name implies, it is a system in which the circuit is closed and all the elements are directly connected. This is unlike broadcast television where any receiver that is correctly tuned can pick up the signal from the airwaves.
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I fly the liverpool 'real' helicopter. Sometimes, when dealing with management, you have to let them make mistakes to realise their error. Someone has come along and said they will give a capability at very low cost. We are very expensive and funds are limited, so someone sees a saving (and promotion of course).
Imagine what would happen if we turned around and said that in a tightly packed urban area, taking away the human eyeball's ability to look outside the cameras field of view would mean the operator being totally lost 75% of the time. We would be accused of trying to scaremonger because of being scared of the sack. So, let them get on with it, hopefully they will see the merits of a LIMITED capability, however paying for 2 assets is expensive. We have also looked into fixed balloon sites with cameras fitted for 24 hour coverage.
Crewless aircraft have their place in a structured force setup, but you will always need the human input. Yesterday we had four lads starburst from a stolen car, the camera stayed with 2 and the crew monitored the other 2. All 4 arrested for a string of offences, a drone would have got 2.
Imagine what would happen if we turned around and said that in a tightly packed urban area, taking away the human eyeball's ability to look outside the cameras field of view would mean the operator being totally lost 75% of the time. We would be accused of trying to scaremonger because of being scared of the sack. So, let them get on with it, hopefully they will see the merits of a LIMITED capability, however paying for 2 assets is expensive. We have also looked into fixed balloon sites with cameras fitted for 24 hour coverage.
Crewless aircraft have their place in a structured force setup, but you will always need the human input. Yesterday we had four lads starburst from a stolen car, the camera stayed with 2 and the crew monitored the other 2. All 4 arrested for a string of offences, a drone would have got 2.
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Latest update: Merseyside Police Press Office have issued a statement that this story is untrue. They are not buying these helicopters and have only carried out a study into the possibility of using the drones. The press lied......
These devices are pretty small; it would be useful to know what size of camera payload [therefore image quality assuming they can't fly lower than we can] is being proposed.
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I don't think pilotage contracts are in jeopardy just yet; my earlier comment about twin engines was only partly in jest.
Even a drone would be regulated by the CAA! Dependent on weight, a drone might possibly be classified as a light aircraft. Does anyone in UK yet have an AOC for drones? I've never heard about one.
In my opinion, having flown radio controlled model aircraft and crashed a few, a drone is far less safe over a congested area than a full-sized, piloted aircraft (piloted as in the aircraft, not on the ground).
Rest easy, Jayteeto!
Even a drone would be regulated by the CAA! Dependent on weight, a drone might possibly be classified as a light aircraft. Does anyone in UK yet have an AOC for drones? I've never heard about one.
In my opinion, having flown radio controlled model aircraft and crashed a few, a drone is far less safe over a congested area than a full-sized, piloted aircraft (piloted as in the aircraft, not on the ground).
Rest easy, Jayteeto!
"A box of tricks including helmet-mounted cameras and metal-detecting gloves to search for weapons is about to be further added to with the introduction of a talking car..."
I bet that the crims in Liverpool are really going to be shaking in their boots when a fleet of these show up...
I think that this story may have come from a Rip Van Winkle at the BBC suddenly waking up and discovering the similar story [which was very true and authenticated] relating to a super duper new crime reduction squad in Merseyside that was looking at these craft quite a few weeks ago.
In that instance various US precedents [Los Angeles and Massachusetts if I recall correctly] were mentioned as 'proof' that the concept was proven. As it turned out both quoted operations proved to have even scared the FAA to death and were halted. One was over LA and the other at low level over a crowd of motorcyclists in the middle of nowhere.
There are some 'twin' engine UAVs around [most I have seen are conventional twin tractor monoplane in layout] but it is early days in their development and it may be the assymetrics of an engine failing will be even worse than a single engine failure when the pilot cannot feel the beast slewing around.
In that instance various US precedents [Los Angeles and Massachusetts if I recall correctly] were mentioned as 'proof' that the concept was proven. As it turned out both quoted operations proved to have even scared the FAA to death and were halted. One was over LA and the other at low level over a crowd of motorcyclists in the middle of nowhere.
There are some 'twin' engine UAVs around [most I have seen are conventional twin tractor monoplane in layout] but it is early days in their development and it may be the assymetrics of an engine failing will be even worse than a single engine failure when the pilot cannot feel the beast slewing around.
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Last Straw
Right that's it! Someone post that pic from a few months back of that R22 UAV firing those rockets strapped to its side & I'll provide the text telling Nigel were sending it around to his place to wait in ambush for his next flight.
So with this not having been a definite plan, today's lunchtime news shows then going for a trial in June. If the image quality is accurate, I go back to my earlier point about the camera payload; my thoughts were....... what the f@ck use is that picture? md600 has no doubt seen these used in construction - very close to the target - though I bet the image quality is nowhere near as good as the sort produced by a portable mast.
Jayteetoo is right, sometimes these donkeys have to make a mistake to learn a lesson - just a shame that it will be funded by the taxpayers of Merseyside, all three of them.....
Jayteetoo is right, sometimes these donkeys have to make a mistake to learn a lesson - just a shame that it will be funded by the taxpayers of Merseyside, all three of them.....
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The UK's first police remote control helicopter has taken to the skies.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...de/6676809.stm
Merseyside Police is using the "spy drone", fitted with CCTV cameras, mainly for tackling anti-social behaviour and public disorder.
The machine is 1m wide, weighs less than a bag of sugar, and can record images from a height of 500m.
It was originally used for military reconnaissance, but is expected to be operational with the force by next month on a three-month trial.
The drone will also be used for monitoring traffic congestion and investigations are to made into its possible role in firearms operations.
http://www.merseyside.police.uk/html...05b-police.htmthis link has a video.
http://www.microdrones.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...de/6676809.stm
Merseyside Police is using the "spy drone", fitted with CCTV cameras, mainly for tackling anti-social behaviour and public disorder.
The machine is 1m wide, weighs less than a bag of sugar, and can record images from a height of 500m.
It was originally used for military reconnaissance, but is expected to be operational with the force by next month on a three-month trial.
The drone will also be used for monitoring traffic congestion and investigations are to made into its possible role in firearms operations.
http://www.merseyside.police.uk/html...05b-police.htmthis link has a video.
http://www.microdrones.com/
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22clipper,
Please find that pic! I never saw it a few months back.
Its these that are the future, not little RC helicopters. If they are battery powered they only last a few minuites and if petrol powered they only last a little longer.
They wouldn't last a whole football match!
But these things are larger enough scale so the wind is not a problem and fuel will last a reasonable time.
MADY
Please find that pic! I never saw it a few months back.
Its these that are the future, not little RC helicopters. If they are battery powered they only last a few minuites and if petrol powered they only last a little longer.
They wouldn't last a whole football match!
But these things are larger enough scale so the wind is not a problem and fuel will last a reasonable time.
MADY
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I also fly remote control aircraftb and whilst they may suffice with an on board camera for some aerial photograps, keeping one aloft for the amount of time required to monitor crowds etc is simply not feasible. The max time I could get aloft on a 60 sized bolkow (remote control) could be stretched to 45 mins if I added a second 22 ounce duasl feed fuel tank, but thats about it.
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In 'on2's link above, it would appear that the officer operating the drone, not only has to fly the vehicle, but has to also entertain the officers on duty with him by means of a mouth organ!
I hope he can operate the drone better than he appears to be able to play the mouth organ and I wonder if he also has a drum on his back with the drumstick attached to his heel with a piece of cord!
I hope he can operate the drone better than he appears to be able to play the mouth organ and I wonder if he also has a drum on his back with the drumstick attached to his heel with a piece of cord!