Oklahoma Researchers Test Drones That Can Detect Guns

[Fish Miner]

I am working with researchers at my university who can detect landmines (metal or poly) from a high alt aircraft. They can pretty much detect anything buried under sand or dirt. It would totally work on guns under cloth. This technology has been around for a few years. The reality is there are so many detection methodologies, you have no chance of hiding anything.

The real question is what do they do with the data? Meaning, so a drone sees you have a gun....now what? Legal procedures still need to be followed, evidence is evidence, and needs to follow proper gathering, handling and processing methods in order to be used in our courts or by police. The only other choice is to stock up on tinfoil hats....

 

[rondog]

I am working with researchers at my university who can detect landmines (metal or poly) from a high alt aircraft.

OK, now THIS would be good! Develop an aircraft that can detect mines and then detonate them with a laser, and that would be awesome! Too many innocent people are killed and maimed by mines.

 

[JRH6856]

Big Brother is flying high

 

[VVelox]

This is nothing new. I use to know a dude who did computer vision stuff for the company did the software for the US military drones. They were(or atleast it was being worked not, but I believe it was fielded then) capable recognizing firearms among other things as of at least 5 years ago.

 

[whetrock]

That thing could have sensory overload, lots of guns in that part of the world, not to mention OK in general. I'm not a big fan of these drones in the hand of every LE agency, and feel that they should be used in a great deal of reservation to keep in check with the often overlooked/abused 4TH Amendment. With that being said with technology the way it's constantly progressing is creating a finer line between RC Aircraft and "Drones". There's some very cool stuff available to us lowly civilians.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I'd like to know the "point" in having this technology incorporated into UAVs, or what they are going to do with the information of who is carrying a firearm, and who isnt.

Most military technology is a blessing or a curse depending on whether you are standing behind it or in front of it. Being able to better positively ID armed individuals in Afghanistan would have made my world over there a much happier and safer place. Presumably, members of the Taliban would have had a different opinion on that matter. Exported back here to the US and used domestically it's a whole other debate.

I believe we might be due for some new anti-surveillance laws to be passed.

Thermal imaging doesn't come up much in my personal involvement in LE, but my understanding is that there are already rulings on the books that have stated it's not "plain view" if you have to use thermals, NVGs, or other specialized equipment to see it.

(How that correlates with the NYPD's deployment of gun detectors working in non-visible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum is a bit of a mystery to me -- though NYPD seems to be pioneering the eradication of civil liberties in a couple other policy areas as well . . .)

 

[MachIVshooter]

If a drone is close enough to detect your weapon, it's in range of said weapon.

 

[Oklacoyotekiller]

Anyone got any rem drone loads for sale?

 

[BigBore44]

What caliber do you want oklacoyotekiller? Remember the .308 and '06 can go miles if we miss. Have to figure out how much to lead them. Government supplied arial targets!! That's a decent return for the "stimulus" package! Lol

 

[MrCleanOK]

drones with sensors that can find people and even tell if you are carrying a weapon

This describes pretty much every reconnaisance UAS with a thermal camera. The ability to detect a weapon through clothing isn't difficult if the weapon is a different temperature than the body. The quality of the camera, weather conditions, the size of the weapon, the nature of the clothes all have an impact on this.