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DHS Researching Drone Capabilities for Its ‘Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety’ Program

Oct. 3, 2012 6:44am Liz Klimas

DHS Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety Project Puts Out Request for Information on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

(Image: Wikimedia)

The research arm of the Department of Homeland Security is looking to evaluate small drones with sensors and other technology in an effort to “enhance border security without impeding commerce and travel.”

It recently put out an invitation for vendors of small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) participate in a component of its Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) project. At this point, the request for information would bring vendors to a site where the team would evaluate systems in “simulated but realistic and relevant real-world operational scenarios, such as law enforcement operations, search and rescue, and fire and hazardous material spill response.” It would also evaluate safety of such technology, such as how the vehicle will fly if communication is lost with the controller.

The DHS is looking for SUAS to weigh less than 25 pounds and to have electro-optical, infrared, and, ideally, biological/chemical/radiological sensors, among other criteria involving range, endurance and speed.

What Evan Ackerman with IEEE Spectrum points out though is a concern over the lack of dialogue and transparency with the public. Here’s what Ackerman writes:

The sketchy part about all of this is that we’ll never get to hear about what’s going on, since “the information within each test report will be classified as For Official Use Only, and will not be shared with the general public.” I understand the need for security and stuff, but these drones are going to be operated domestically, and not by the military. And seriously, an integrated laser designator? On a domestic surveillance drone? For what, exactly?

The RFI states though that this is not necessarily coming to fruition. It is not a request for proposals, but more simply is for “informational and planning purposes.”

Ackerman writes though that he considers this “a rather shady precedent,” writing that public knowledge about what could “end up flying around over our homes” is important.

“[...] I also feel like we, as the public, should be told more about both what the drones are intended to do, and what they’re capable of doing, which often is not the same thing,” Ackerman continued writing that he would encourage debate on the topic before it becomes a reality.

TheBlaze has reported in the past public concern over the prevalence of drones being used and potential for more over U.S. soil. Government Security News recently reported that the Federal Aviation Administration has delayed a decision for drone testing sites. It is also still evaluating privacy protections and other technical aspects before opening up airspace to more UAVs by 2015.

A survey by the Associated Press recently found though that 44 percent of those questioned supported drone use by local law enforcement.

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Comments (30)

Cruelnunusual
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:32am
Wait till they can video every street in the US, a la Google Satellite, 24 hours a day, and have a permanent video record of the entire country. Then they can go back 10 years and watch everywhere you went.

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Cruelnunusual
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:28am
They’re for my “safety” and “security”, I LOVE that, how they turn it completely around from it’s real purpose, which is to subjugate and subdue me. Boy, how lucky are we, that they’re building these things for our BENEFIT? Thanks, Government! You bunch of bastards!

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Norm D. Plume
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 12:00pm
Skeet.

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- RWCT
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 3:35pm
  Yup. Except for the fact there is a program in development to make the drones SELF controlled, and able to make decisions to ATTACK a target, when they arm them. Think you can out shoot one of these? If so, get on to the Olympic Target shooting team.
  
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- DisposableWorker
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:00pm
  RC airplanes to go and play with the nice drones!
  
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Dr_Dave
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 11:45am
I too have concerns about the government, especially this one, using UAVs for illegal purposes. But these small UAVs have tremendous potential for commercial use. I’m currently in a class learning about the construction, operation, and applications for the small UAVs. They have a very short range and flying time, like 5-10 minutes on batteries, so using them to roam around and spy on people is impractical. These little drones aren’t the problem – the large ones up in the atmosphere almost like satellites or real satellites (google street view) are what we need to be worried about.

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woodyee
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:20am
Notice the recent build-up in government development of domestic use weapons. A build-up of this kind for the US military might lead one to believe that the government was preparing for war.

NASA is out of business. But this is a build-up of domestic use weapons…

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jettson
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:00am
Wow that thing is cool . Nothing surprises me anymore. When I hear some of the things hes pushing on us. No telling what is going to happen to America. The real people want him out. I hope thats enough. There’s a reason they call us the right. Throw the bums out NOBAMA in 2012

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Meyvn1
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:50am
FYI. I don’t need your public safety. I consider any and all drones hostile.

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- ENIGMA28724
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:44pm
  My sentiments exactly. Best not fly it over my property or it’s belong to me.
  
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kruzer_mike
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:49am
Why have drones to watch the border when they aren’t going to arrest anyone anyway. Unless, it is to give the cartels intelligence o n where ICE agents are located so that they can avoid detection….just saying.

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Brother Winston Smith
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:39am
This is what you want, this is what you get.

Ron Paul warned. We laughed.
Alex Jones warned. We laughed.
Andrew Napolitano warned. We laughed.
The fourth Amendment disappeared. We slept.
Posse Comitatus disappeared. We slept.
DHS appeared. We cheered “USA, USA, USA!”
The “Patriot” Act. We cheered “USA, USA, USA!”
Drones. We cheered “USA, USA, USA!”
NDAA. We cheered “USA, USA, USA!”

Democrat. Republicans. IDENTICAL.

Enjoy your “debate” tonight. I’ll wager you’ll hear NOTHING about ANY of this.

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- girlnurse
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:00pm
  Sadly you are RIGHT!
  Theyre getting rid of all our NUKES and spending money on domestic warfare, facial recognition, data base cameras and tracking devices. While the Sheeple say “Me Republican=good—You democrat=Bad” BBAaaaad baaa baaa”
  Now go get your tin foil hat on Brother! Sigh….
  
  BTW-I hear their using voice lie detector devices tonight at the debate…thats only to get us SHEEP use to them so that they can use them on us…I can just see it now (as if it’s not bad enough already)..having a lie detector device at every job interview along with ALL the other NWO hoops we have to jump thru!
  
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oldsoldier10
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:21am
if i see one of these damn thing flying over me in NC/SC i will 7mm it!

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Albatross8791
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:43am
Anyone remember that “B” science fiction movie directed by John Carpenter called “They Live”???

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- Jaycen
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:53am
  I have come to chew bubble gum and to kick @$$, and I’m all out of bubble gum.
  
  Rowdy Roddy Piper and Keith David. Best fight scene ever – an homage to which appears in movies and television shows such as South Park.
  
  I try to watch it once a year, and recently enjoyed it with my son. It is literally a look into the “alien mindset” of our mass media.
  
  “Sleep”
  “Conform”
  “OBEY”
  
  Report this comment
KangarooJack
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:02am
How many Sci-Fi films/books/etc. had these Surveilance type drones? Funny thing is- it always involved a gov’t that was intent on CONTROLLING their own people.

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Stoic one
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:16am
The ONLY drones that should be over any country are enemy drones, which are targets of opportunity for the populous that is being overflown.

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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:34am
  Folks, this article is part of a psychological warfare operation against the American people. They are trying to scare us into standing down and not taking back our country. Do not buy it. The govt has never done anything right. They are not a cohesive trained force. They are a bunch of hacks who couldn’t compete in the private market. There are many inside of govt who will not go along with their plans. Don’t let all this drone propaganda scare you.
  
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Gary_K
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:14am
Don’t be fooled, the drones will be used to hunt down and kill all who disagree with the NWO communists.

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:07am
Call this program for what it is by the DHS – “Citizens under control and our iron heeled boots program”

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- Norm D. Plume
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 12:02pm
  You realize Romney is all in favor of this stuff, right? Right?!
  
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woodyee
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:05am
An ILD for domestic use?!? WHAT THE F?!?! Then they use the keywords “for public safety”. Whose going to protect the public from a gobblement-launched laser-guided missile? Who would the gobblement arm with missiles to be guided by these remote ILD carriers? To what purpose?

This is far more dangerous than the gobblement lies about the police being “outgunned” by civilian firearms; I don’t see machine guns being carried by John Q. Public…

No friggin way we should let this happen!

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razhunter100
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:05am
Video: EPA Approved Human Testing
http://www.infowars.com/video-epa-approved-human-testing/
The US Environmental Protection Agency and its Administrator Lisa Jackson are on the defendant’s end of a federal lawsuit claiming the Agency conducted illegal human experimentation on unsuspecting study volunteers.

Read the article by Adan Salazar.

Mexican Diplomat Says America Pretty Much Invited The Sinaloa Drug Cartel Across The Border
http://www.infowars.com/mexican-diplomat-says-america-pretty-much-invited-the-sinaloa-drug-cartel-across-the-border/

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spikebu
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:03am
American ingenuity and free market. Develop a drone shield.

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- marecanine
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:34am
  They already have a shield it is called 12 ga.
  
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spikebu
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:00am
What can’t they see through? I want to put it over my property.

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- HOOT_OWL
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:32am
  I’m thinking ‘lead paint’ would be hard to see through.
  
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- Xiccarph
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:49am
  Whatever can block them will be banned, made illegal to install/possess, and you will be convicted of terrorism. Big Brother won’t accept anything equal to or bigger than what it uses.
  
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razhunter100
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 6:54am
be happy to shove these drones right up their pompous arse h oles…

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