General

Re: Utah To Use Blimp to Watch Its Citizens!

dude6935 — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:18:27 GMT

Unmanned blimps are cheap compared to alternative options. I expect a lot of privacy questions when this surveillance is used in court though, especially if it records crimes on private property.

Re: Utah To Use Blimp to Watch Its Citizens!

Bogart — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:52:42 GMT

I was not carefull to note the number of lies but this one jumped out at me:

"The blimp has almost no operational costs and minimal maintenance expenses, he said. Ogden city officials say it will cost about $100 a month to operate but would not comment specifically on the cost of the blimp."

The largest cost of any project is labor. The labor includes appropriating the money, installing the equipment and operating the equipment. This is not a self driven unmanned vehicle, it must be remotely piloted as it will be just crusing around the city and you do not want this crashing into a car moving 70 mph + balloon going to 40mph = 110mph.

Utah To Use Blimp to Watch Its Citizens!

limitgov — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:24:14 GMT

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70F1DJ20110116?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=76

"The airship entails military technology now available to local law enforcement, he said."

"We anticipate using it mainly at night. The cameras have incredible night vision to see with tremendous clarity daytime and nighttime."

All in the name of safety, of course.