Barnard Microsystems Limited

Above: an InView making a tight turn.

The UAV aerial imagery must support the variable overlay of thermal imagery over higher resolution day time visual imagery, to enhance the interpretation of a scene and the identification of people and hazardous conditions. High power infra-red or flash illumination could be used at night, in conjunction with image intensification, to aid night viewing. Real time (ie. no delay) day and night surveillance of:

• any private, industrial, or, state property
• car parks
• railway stations, rail traffic, freight yards and goods depots
• railway tracks, for timely removal of children playing on the tracks, or, any other obstacles on the tracks, such as fallen trees, cattle,…
• a city, to provide almost instant availability to monitor a crime scene, or, monitor any looting in a city after an electrical power outage, or, a major flood

One could easily monitor comings and goings, and intruders, from the air.

From Chem Plant “Site Aerial 20Nov 2004.jpg”

Monitoring New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was augmented by UAVs.

From http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Navy-KatrinaSurvivorFlyover.jpg (link no longer exists)

• Computer controlled day and night loitering over large cities, key installations and shipping, keeping a lookout for any criminal activities, or, movement of pirates at sea.
• Permanent presence of UAVs in the sky, will reduce the time taken to view any location from the sky, in a cost effective manner. The UAV detachment can form part of an integrated crime prevention network, in which people’s homes are connected to a Response Centre. If burgled, a message is sent to the Response Centre and an already airborne UAV is dispatched to investigate and track any fleeing burglars, if appropriate. The presence of the UAV, with a high power searchlight, will often cause the burglars to flee.
• Detect illegal day, or, night time mining activities, using visual and thermal imaging
• Use sensitive, time synchronised acoustic sensors on several UAVs, to pinpoint:

• gunfire (for example, at a terrorist training centre in the countryside)
• bomb explosions

• Visible (for example, red and / or green) laser illumination from UAV to:

• deter criminals
• identify a location for ground based personnel

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- from http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/countynews/display.var.2253816.0.police_look_at_spy_plane_to_fight_crime.php

Friday 9th May 2008

ESSEX Police could team up with their counterparts in Kent to buy a spy plane traditionally used by the military to track terrorists, it has been revealed.

The county's police authority has set aside £19,000 this year to look in detail at funding an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which could be used to track car thieves, muggers and illegal immigrants from the skies.

The equipment will also be used to film hostage sieges and firearms incidents, and send the live footage to armed officers on the ground helping police to plan their next move.

The Essex force has been working with the Kent constabulary and defence company BAE systems to make the UAVs part of their weaponry in the fight against crime.

So far the BAE spy drones have been used by British soldiers in Afghanistan to track the Taleban and co-ordinating bombing raids.

BAE's work with Kent and Essex police forms part of the company's wider plan to generate £300million a year by working on civilian security contracts.

Alison Woods, BAE's strategy director, said: "We have the kit and we have the skills that are relevant to the security sector and our intention is to build on that."

Police in Merseyside and Strathclyde are already using the remote-controlled spy planes to monitor crime scenes and carry out surveillance.

Donna Veasey, spokesman for Essex Police, said:"Police forces have a number of means at their disposal to investigate crime and are constantly looking at new technology to increase their capacity to combat crime."

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- from http://www.btp.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=1059&NewsAreaID=2

28 January 2008

British Transport Police (BTP) have revealed their latest high tech weapon in the crackdown on cable theft from the railways, the Microdrone.

The latest technology in police surveillance, the Microdrone is an unmanned, almost silent helicopter that can film from more that 350ft. It will be used in Hartlepool for the first time as part of BTP’s national 'Day of Action' against cable theft which is taking place throughout the country on Monday 28 January 2008.

Invisible to the naked eye and able to hover at 350ft above railway lines and surrounding areas, the remote controlled helicopter, the size of a dustbin lid, beams back live video footage and infrared imagery to police operators on the ground. The hovering Microdrone can even squirt offenders with Smartwater security marking solution that can then be identified by police.

Although it may sound more like science fiction, British Transport Police will be utilising the Microdrone as part of Mondays national 'Day of Action'.

Numerous operations will be taking place throughout the country during the day, including Cleveland, which has been identified as a hotspot crime area. Officers from Operation Drum, BTP’s dedicated national and regional task force set up to combat cable theft from the railways, will be targeting problem areas undertaking track line side patrols, utilising off road police bikes and police dogs.

The Op Drum team will also undertake visits to scrap metal yards in the area to ensure dealers are aware of what to look for in identifying cable stolen from the rail network. Officers will check the books and inform the proprietors of the crackdown and consequences of handling stolen goods

Over 20 Police forces from across the UK will be working in partnership with British Transport Police on the 'day of action' undertaking a number of operations to target metal thieves and clampdown on copper cable theft from the railway. Cable and precious metal theft has become a growing concern in the UK and in a number of countries resulting in ongoing detrimental effects on numerous industries and businesses including rail.

Detective Inspector Danny Snee who heads up Operation Drum in the North East said.

“The Microdrone is an excellent piece of technology which will assist BTP in our ongoing fight against cable thieves. The drone will assist in covering even larges stretches of the railway to monitor criminal activity. Its use will mean that we can police even more sections of the rail network in addition to regally patrols and other tactics that we adopt to disrupt cable thieves. Its use will not be intrusive to the general public and is will only be aimed at people involved in criminal activity.

“After the threat of terrorism, the theft of cable is one of BTP’s biggest challenges. Those who steal cable are not just risking a prison sentence, they are risking their lives. This crime is costly to the rail industry and causes hours of delays to the thousands of passengers who rely on the rail network."

Dyan Crowther, route director for Network Rail said, “Sadly the theft of cable from the railways remains a serious and pressing issue for us. Anything which can help us to catch the thieves who are putting their own lives in danger and causing millions of pounds worth of disruption to the regions economy is to be welcomed. We are supporting the BTP in this day of action and will continue to work closely with them to stop the thieves and ensure a reliable rail service.”

Chief Inspector Ian Coates of Cleveland Police said, “We are delighted to work in conjunction with the British Transport Police on this initiative. Each of our four districts has been working hard to tackle the problem of thefts of metal and each will continue their efforts today and for the foreseeable future.

“We have teamed up with local authorities, the environment agency and local scrap metal dealers who are providing welcome support and cooperation as we deal with this growing problem.

“Our message is clear: “Do not be tempted to make what you think is easy money from stealing and selling on valuable metals. We are checking who is stealing metal, how they are stealing it and how they are selling it on. Our efforts will not stop and you will be dealt with.”

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