One Nation Under Surveillance
President Obama is famously fascinated by the remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle--the drone. He deploys them abroad to kill terrorists personally selected for elimination, and his EPA uses them to keep watch over potential domestic eco-terrorists, otherwise known as farmers and ranchers.
But there's so much more this new technology can do to advance Obama administration policies.
The AR Drone, a mobile-phone-controlled quad-copter, is an entertaining example of robotics--essentially a flying toy (full disclosure: I own an AR Drone and enjoy buzzing around the house, terrorizing children, adults and pets alike). The Joggobot version is modified to serve as race track rabbit for today's otherwise distracted runner. The main disadvantage is a 20-minute maximum endurance on a single battery charge.
Here's an opportunity for a little creative synthesis. The Obama administration is committed to reducing health expenses by reversing the national obesity epidemic. Why not take the Joggobot one better by adapting a Predator drone, or whatever EPA is flying nowadays, to enforce the First Lady's aerobic routine of the week?
The Two Minutes Hate is so twentieth century. And too brief to materially improve cardiovascular conditioning. Why not supplant the mandatory communal event of 1984 with a Sixty Minutes Scramble aimed at keeping pace with the Hellfire missiles overhead? Afterwards, enjoy a refreshing beverage of your choice--16 ounces or smaller, of course.
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Comments:
Sep '10
Re: One Nation Under Surveillance
The next Obama ad: under a Romney administration, Predator drones will be unable to send their Hellfire missiles to public schools!
Dec '10
Re: One Nation Under Surveillance
20 minutes? That's 2-3 jogs and a water break for some of us.
Oct '10
Re: One Nation Under Surveillance
Out of curiosity, would it be legal if the farmers and ranchers built drones of their to shoot the EPA drones out of the sky?
Edited on June 12, 2012 at 10:21pmRe: One Nation Under Surveillance
Joseph Eagar: Out of curiosity, would it be legal if the farmers and ranchers built drones of their to shoot the EPA drones out of the sky? · 13 minutes ago
Edited 12 minutes ago
Surface to Air Drones? The acronym--SAD--sort of says it all, doesn't it?
Oct '10
Re: One Nation Under Surveillance
You can purchase a UAV with flight capacity of up to 20 hours. Beware of sticker shock though. Arming one comes with some serious legal issues if apprehended. Could be an interesting project.
As for the above SAD, try Surface to Air Drone Intereceptor and Eliminator, SADIE. Has a classic ring to it, Hey ?
Edited on June 12, 2012 at 11:07pmDec '10
Re: One Nation Under Surveillance
For me to really get interested, the Joggobot would need a chilidog suspended from it. Or maybe a beersicle near the 20-minute mark.
Oct '10
Re: One Nation Under Surveillance
If anyone has flown RC Helos and you may feel small drones are a threat. You might want to consider one of these, a jet powered AirWolf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKbFPKOvF9U&feature=related
Might not want to teach your wife the controls though, Grinz.
Re: One Nation Under Surveillance
wilber forge: If anyone has flown RC Helos and you may feel small drones are a threat. You might want to consider one of these, a jet powered AirWolf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKbFPKOvF9U&feature=related
Might not want to teach your wife the controls though, Grinz. · 5 minutes ago
I love it. There is nothing like the distinctive sound the moment a turbine engine lights off--whatever the scale. I can almost smell the jet-A.
Oct '10
Re: One Nation Under Surveillance
I've got to admit, that would be very tempting if I were one of those ranchers. The idea of government drones spying on private land is disgusting.