Microdrone spy drone

[zik]

The British Police are testing out this funky looking spy drone:

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/09/british-polices.html

"Police in Britain are conducting trials on a small battery-powered, radio-controlled helicopter called the Microdrone that comes with a camera and a loudspeaker."

Interesting airframe. They say it can return to base with two of its four rotor blades damaged. They don't say how likely it is that only two would get damaged in any realistic incident.

[_helitron_]

Hi zik,

I just build a similar one, check this threads:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=733487
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=731260
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=716870

and this videos:

http://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/VideoListe

For example Mikrokopter with a LOT of wind:

http://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/VideoAbspielen?id=48

Cheers,

//Erwin

[macboffin]

First question " What kind of rotor damage?" First comment, "Any rotor damage should result in some interesting aerobatics followed by an expensive crash. Since it is operated in urban environments for watching suspected criminal activities, or unruly crowds, could be VERY expensive! Especially since they are operating in spite of CAA and BMFA rules, thus illegaly!"
I queried The BMFA recently about this, suffice it to say that they are NOT amused. Incidently, this is not a "Micro" drone, it's over a meter across.

[Peter Seddon]

It is further reported that they were used at a recent rock festival in the UK. The costs to the police force is reputed to be £30,000 ($60K USD) or £1,000 per month on a lease arrangement which includes the 'copter, ground station etc.

Peter

[_helitron_]

Here a video of the manufacturer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4jtguSF0n4

//Erwin

[_helitron_]

Here a video of the manufacturer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4jtguSF0n4

and the website

http://www.microdrones.de/

here a size comparision of the two types currently available

http://www.microdrones.de/md4-1000.html

//Erwin