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UAV-drone-aerial-video-surveillance

Unmanned aerial vehicles can carry video surveillance equipment and transmit the images back to the operator

Drones – or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – may soon be filling our skies, engaged in myriad video surveillance tasks.

The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in the United States is looking at new rules to govern commercial use of UAVs. Right now, it is illegal to use UAVs for commercial use, but recreational hobbyist use is ok.

On 9 February, the European Commission’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Panel will meet in Brussels to agree on flight rules and technologies for UAVs. Issues they will consider include collision avoidance systems and other safety devices.

New rules are likely to come into effect between 2013 and 2015. Rules will probably limit UAVs to line of sight operation.

There are various security and safety uses for UAVs:

  • Surveillance, covert and overt
  • Emergency services
  • Crisis management: floods, fires, terrorist attack
  • Border control

Emerging opposition to UAVs is focused on privacy and fears of a surveillance state.

The website Drone Wars UK has issued a “Drone Wars Briefing” document.

Privacy advocate, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the US government to find out how UAVs are being used.

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Association (UAVSA) is a trade group that represents the drone industry to the UK government.

UAVSA is planning a PR campaign to change public perception of “drones” and they consider public opposition to be a major obstacle to commercial development of UAVs.

The Civil Aviation Authority has advised drone manufacturers to paint their drones bright colours to combat fears of Big Brother in the sky.

Meanwhile, government and police use of drones appears to be well developed.

ASTRAEA is a consortium of UAV companies. The aim of the ASTRAEA programme is to enable the routine use of UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in all classes of airspace without the need for restrictive or specialised conditions of operation. They have received £30m in public funds over 8 years.

At least five police forces – the Met, Merseyside, Essex, Staffordshire and British Transport police – are known to have used UAVs.

Further information
Guardian newspaper: Surveillance drone industry plans PR effort to counter negative image
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Association: www.uavs.org
New Scientist: Civilian drones to fill the skies after law shake-up
Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (UVS), a global trade association based in the Netherlands
Eurocontrol, pan-European air traffic control organisation.
Electronic Frontier Foundation

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Elmdene

Elmdene

Innovative electronic security and fire products manufacturer, Elmdene International Limited – a subsidiary of Potter Signal, LLC – has had an extremely successful Intersec 2012 in Dubai, seeing footfall on its stand soar by an impressive 75% from the previous year and reporting a number of major orders in the pipeline for door contacts, switch mode power supplies and Infra-Red (IR) exit devices.

Elmdene, which was exhibiting as part of the UK pavilion and is an active member of the British Security Industry Association’s Export Council, was using Intersec 2012 to promote the expansion of its Vision range of PSUs (Power Supply Units) for CCTV applications, including the company’s increasingly popular energy efficient and cooler- running switch mode models. The key additions to the Vision range launched at the show were the low profile VRS124000-4-T and VRS128000-8-T and the encapsulated VRS123500-EB.

Another significant product line which grabbed the attention of visitors to Intersec 2012 was the aesthetically pleasing IR exit buttons. Made from durable stainless steel the buttons, which require no direct hand contact, are an ideal access control solution for environments where the transfer of dust and germs can be problematic.

“Said Justin Roberts, Sales and Marketing Director, Elmdene International Limited: “We were certainly impressed with the visitor numbers at Intersec this year and believe that we benefited from having a dual presence, through our own stand and Elmdene’s solutions being displayed by one of our distribution partners.

“There is little doubt that Intersec is becoming a major global event, a fact underlined by the customers we saw from as far afield as North Africa and Scandinavia. In terms of business, we were pleasantly surprised by the number of orders secured as a direct result of Abu Dhabi upgrading their door contact requirements, with attendees seeking out European graded solutions which we are in a strong position to supply.

“Looking at our switch mode power supplies, while their efficiency of operation and associated operational savings is driving take-up in many of the markets we operate in, for the Middle East the lower heat levels generated inside these modern units is turning out to be the most attractive feature for prospective buyers.

“As switch mode PSUs run cooler than established linear designs they are less susceptible to failing when faced with the high temperatures found in the region. An additional benefit, which makes our power supplies even more attractive for Middle Eastern customers, is that unlike many competing products  they are readily able to absorb fluctuations in the electrical supply because they operate between 90V and 260V.”

Contact
www.elmdene.co.uk.

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