The Miami Police Department is very near to using a technology that would allow them to have extra sets of eyes in emergency situations. Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) is developed by Honeywell International and is a flying pilotless drone with electro-optic or infrared sensors.
These allows it to capture images from overhead, hovering around dangerous areas or eventual crime scenes. MAV is a 14 inch wide craft that weights 16 pounds and can lift off and land vertically. The drone is under tests by the Federal Aviation Administration, and if it will be approved, Miami criminals will have to take a second look above before committing any sort of delinquency.
Juan Villalba, the police department spokesman, stated that their intentions are to use it only in tactical missions. The wingless device seems perfect for aiding the SWAT teams in hostage situations or in the ones with barricaded law breakers.
April 15th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Great idea, the more ‘recording eyes’ the police have the better, but how about treatment to correct criminal activity? Even better how about preventative social programs (an alien idea to an American mind?) to lessen the problem? The greatest civilization ever produced by mankind is being tested in North America, and we are it!