NEWS/SCIENCE & TECH: I’m not sure many people are aware of this, but it will change the world as we know it. Drone technology – basically pilotless miniature aircraft with cameras – is expanding dramatically. Current legislation will open US airspace up to 400 feet to drones in the year 2015. Many of these are in the form of miniature aircraft or helicopters, but there are even some in the form of birds – such as the hummingbird drone in the featured image above. It is expected that 35 000 drones will be utlilising US air space by this time. Science and technology companies are already ahead of the eight ball, and it is now a 25 billion dollar industy. Drones are already being used by real estate companies to sell property, and by the paparazzi to stalk celebrities. Some of these devices are as small as a bird (literally) – and the technology will expand at a rapid rate.
The possibilities are mind-boggling, and most of the ones I can think of are not nice. Surveillance, security, police investgations, stalking… These two videos, made by private organisations, should be enough to get you thinking.
A drone flies over the Golden Gate bridge
This drone flies over the Statue of Liberty…
and becomes a viral hit on YouTube. Needless to say, the symbolism was not lost on the authorities…
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