The drone business is going well, I see.

[FluffyMcDeath]

Drones are about to be patrolling a good chunk of the Canada/US border (keeping to their side I hope).

Here

 

[cecilia]

ok, WHAT are you godless Canadians doing NOW???

:roflmao:

 

[Glaucus]

I have no issue with patrolling the border, but I have to wonder what the UAV will do once it spots some smugglers crossing the border. Also, it's my understanding that certain native groups cross the border at will as they don't care much about our borders. That should cause some problems. In the end, the UAVs may be defeated by simply paying a guy to hang out close to the military base and take note of when and how many UAVs are in the air at any given time. Or maybe smugglers will just use their own UAVs (in the form of RC airfract) to fly contraband over the border (if they're not already).

 

[Robert]

Also, it's my understanding that certain native groups cross the border at will as they don't care much about our borders. That should cause some problems.

Well, to be fair to them, it can't be easy to respect artificial borders implemented by invaders from overseas.

 

[redrumloa]

Meanwhile in Miami...

Drones nearly ready to fly for MDPD

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21003481193850/

DORAL, Fla. (WSVN) -- A first-of-its-kind crime-fighting tool will soon be helping police gain a bird's eye view of potentially dangerous situations.

"It sounds like a flying weed whacker," said Miami-Dade Police Sgt. Andrew Cohen. Loud and out of this world, and though it may look like a UFO, this is Miami-Dade's latest crime fighting gadget.

The drone, or micro air vehicle, can hover in mid-air with a camera. Cohen will control it from a laptop computer. "It's another tool for our tool kit," he said.

But, Cohen wants to emphasize, this will not be Big Brother watching over you or taking a peak onto your property. "This thing is not going to fly over neighborhoods," he said. "We are not using it to spy."

Cohen said the drone will only take flight during highly dangerous situations, like responding to barricaded subjects or a tactical crisis. "This is used to gather information in situations we know there is a risk to the problem," Cohen said.

With the drone, officers will have a heads-up on what they cannot see from the ground. "Get real time information, relay to commanders on the scene to see what they need to see to make decisions, but we are not putting officers in harm's way," said Cohen.

Miami-Dade will be the first police department in the country to use this type of drone. They have two, and both are practically free to taxpayers thanks to a government grant.

The device has been tested for two years to work out the kinks. Now police are waiting for the FAA to give them the final approval, and then, once the appropriate situation arises, the drone will lift off.

 

[ilwrath]

I have no issue with patrolling the border, but I have to wonder what the UAV will do once it spots some smugglers crossing the border. Also, it's my understanding that certain native groups cross the border at will as they don't care much about our borders.

And, how do they even plan on identifying a smuggler or border jumper, anyhow? I don't think we have a DMZ with Canada... So aside from the limited amount of drones, you've got a pretty small window for catching someone crossing the border. And once they're here, Canadians look a lot like Americans.

It's just a giant, open, friendly border. During the summer, I (legally) cross it unannounced multiple times a year. You head south down the Livingston channel, make the wide left turn by the red and white marker at the hole in the channel wall, and presto, you're in Canada. Granted, that is a crossing by water, rather than forest, but I don't think it's any more monitored. Even the official bridges and tunnel feel more like simple toll roads than international crossings.

In fact, it's somewhat difficult for me to even grasp the concept of Canada really being a foreign country. A few years ago when I was looking to take a new job, I considered several Chicago and well as a couple in Toronto. It was honestly a few days later that it really hit me that to take a job in Toronto I'd actually have to emigrate and gain citizenship!