"Air Force Aims to Launch 'Spy Pigeon' Drone by 2015" Topic

I really like the looks of this one . Robert

Air Force Aims to Launch 'Spy Pigeon' Drone by 2015

Spy Pigeon Drone
« on: July 09, 2010, 07:27:21 PM »

Air Force Aims to Launch 'Spy Pigeon' Drone by 2015

(July Cool -- In the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, U.S. officials often had to rely on grainy satellite photos to decide whether facilities on the ground were intended for producing weapons of mass destruction. Now imagine that instead of overhead satellite imagery -- or even high-flying unmanned aircraft -- they could send in a flock of microdrones that could actually fly right over, or even inside, such facilities.

Even better, these drones -- equipped with chemical sensors that could pick up possible weapons work with near certainty -- would resemble typical birds, like pigeons, making them nearly impossible to spot.

This high-tech spy vision is precisely what Air Force researchers are trying to build, and they believe such a microdrone is not only possible, but could be ready to fly in just five years.

"Ideally, it'll be a bird-sized UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle], with the current goal being a pigeon," Dr. Leslie Perkins, the lead for micro air vehicles at the Air Force Research Laboratory, told AOL News. The "birdlike" UAV would also be able to operate with minimal pilot intervention for up to a week at a time, she said."

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I would love to see a more realistic version of one when its developed. Would be interesting in a game where the opposing force cant tell the difference. Robert

How prevalent are pigeons all over the world though? Can you use a pigeon drone everywhere? Robert

Will it leave droppings?

Presumably there would be a variety of markings, Afghani Blackbird, Iraqi Starling, Somali Sparrow, Turkish… oh, hold on.

Looks a bit big for a pigeon….maybe a spy crow.

It could drop tiny cluster bombs like the pigeons near my house.

Could be used to deliver biological agents in fake poop too. Robert

I suspect shotgun shell sales will rival the peak in gold prices, when this happens, if it hasn't already.

Searches for good pigeon, and other fowl recipes will be strong as well, if you are looking for advertising, product placement, on the off chance they shoot down a real bird.

In some cultures isn't pigeon quite tasty? . Robert

Have to stay away from these guys LOL. Robert

"Pigeon Shooters Blast Animal-Rights Drone From Sky

SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness) says their drone was shot down in retaliation for their disruption of a South Carolina pigeon shoot. "

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Might be about time to buy some shares in Izmash (Saiga shotguns are basically an AK47 action shooting 12-gauge!)

Can't say I blame the USAF for wanting a less-obvious drone design… or maybe someone decided that if the Iranians, etc, are going to assume birds with GPS trackers on them are spying for someone, we might as well take them up on the idea!

I remember the Saiga shotguns from when I was a Gun Room Clerk at a sporting goods warehouse years ago. Robert

< Will it leave droppings? I hope so.

Will it leave droppings?

It might leave explosive dropping. :)

I thought they were going with insects. Lots of little scurrying things that could find places to hide.

Where are Dastardly and Muttley when you need them?

I have seen the insect ones. They would be able to blend in better then a pigeon IMO. Robert

Just had an idea lol. How about bird drones that could eat the insect drones lol. Robert

Now this article claims that this is a US bird shape spy drone that was shot down in Pakistan. Robert

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I think that some can tell the difference between a real bird and a drone one obviously. Especially if its not like the native ones in the area. Robert

There is this seagull type of drone though. Robert

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Video of it,
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The one in Pakistan looks like a seagull type to me. Robert

And it looks fairly large too. Robert

"High Tech US Drone Bird Discovered real or fake?? 2011"

youtu.be/nYzrGLQQcl0