'Kite eyes' criminal observation in the city

US police have tested a device with high-altitude observation that people on the ground do not see. The unmanned aerial vehicle, which looks like a child's remote control toy, weighs 2.3 kg.

SkySeer. Photo: AP

SkySeer is being tested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, USA. It is said that it will perform the task too dangerous to the police and save the helicopter for other tasks. Technology can be used to search for missing children, stray or searching for a fire zone, said Sid Heal, chief technology explorer for the office.
The device will also help track suspected burglars on the roofs and the suspects fleeing.

Unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with the ability to work under infrared light and low light and can fly at speeds up to 48 km / h in 70 minutes. It can fold wings and fit into a bag smaller than a golf bag racket.

" It's basically a high-tech kite that employees can start up in just minutes ," says Heal.

A small, tilt-and-turn camera mounted on the bottom of the plane sends live video images to a control station laptop.

Once launched, the aircraft will be set to fly automatically in conjunction with global satellite navigation and a scheduled flight.

" The plane was almost silent and invisible, " Heal said. " It will give us a vertical perspective that has never existed ."

Currently, SkySeer can not spy through windows, but privacy advocates say that being seen by the invisible eyes from the sky is a disturbing advance.

T. An