Calgary Police are testing the Dragan X6 multirotor. Excerpt from the article:
"The key in expanding the service's use of the technology is going to be proving the images hold up in court, Engele said. The X6 was used previously by the Ontario Provincial Police to photograph a homicide scene in rural Ontario and could be used in tactical or surveillance operations, he said."
Wikipedia's comment ..."Although the FAA does not regulate model aircraft, it does have jurisdiction over unmanned aerial vehicles." is not correct; The FAA has jurisdiction on ALL items in the skies over the entire US.
The main disticntion which affects UAVs is that model aircraft flown for "recreaction" are covered by fewer restrictions (such as max height, direct line of sight, max weight, etc.) than any craft used for commercial applications.
A few years back the LAPD demoed a small UAS for tactical use. It had material wings and could be rolled up into a cylinder for storage. I believe (may be incorrect) but it had an MP autopilot. Anyway the story goes that after the press had left a rep from the FAA told the LAPD that they were not permitted to operate the unit. I also remember that the manufacturer was threatened and packed up and went to Australia (again not 100% sure of that).
The FAA did what? On what grounds? (sorry, I live in ireland and this is all new to me. They only allowed BB guns here a couple of years ago! And lets not even mention contraception!)
Looks like an uphill battle then. So be it! Its a basic human right to be allowed to fly...everybody knows that! I think the benifits UAVs will provide will far outweigh any obsticales they might encounter along the way and it'l still be safe to choke the atmosphere to death with '000s of half empty jets! Speaking of which, I wonder how Zeppelin are doing these days. Gotta go. Am late.
But as Condor is pointing out, they would be restricted to clients in Canada, Australia, and some European countries only as the FAA has closed down any commercial use in the states, even to local govt agencies.
That would also explain why this demonstration was here in Calgary.
Comments
The main disticntion which affects UAVs is that model aircraft flown for "recreaction" are covered by fewer restrictions (such as max height, direct line of sight, max weight, etc.) than any craft used for commercial applications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octatron_SkySeer
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/22/l-a-drone-grounded-disciplinary-action-possible/
A few years back the LAPD demoed a small UAS for tactical use. It had material wings and could be rolled up into a cylinder for storage. I believe (may be incorrect) but it had an MP autopilot. Anyway the story goes that after the press had left a rep from the FAA told the LAPD that they were not permitted to operate the unit. I also remember that the manufacturer was threatened and packed up and went to Australia (again not 100% sure of that).
Looks like an uphill battle then. So be it! Its a basic human right to be allowed to fly...everybody knows that! I think the benifits UAVs will provide will far outweigh any obsticales they might encounter along the way and it'l still be safe to choke the atmosphere to death with '000s of half empty jets! Speaking of which, I wonder how Zeppelin are doing these days. Gotta go. Am late.
That would also explain why this demonstration was here in Calgary.
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