So be warned the Drones are coming...

[Fiskadoro]

So I've been hearing rumors that there has been a surveillance drone patrolling Santa Monica Bay. Today someone I know got me some pics of it.

From the looks of it that appears to be a Hydronalix Drone that is set up for surveillance. Hydronalix was working with the LA county lifeguards to develop a rescue drone but they have now branched into into a new series of drones for gathering information.

It looks very similar to their Hurricaine tracking drones which can travel up to 18 mph and spend up to eight days on the water under power before it has to come in for refueling.



You don't have to be a genius to see where this is going.

Where the Hurricane drone (above) is for research and the rescue drone is made for saving swimmers I'd say the purpose of that camo colored drone with it's camouflage coloration and large camera has got to be for law enforcement and surveillance.

I looked around and could not find any info on the camo drone or what it's being used for but the Hydronalix website says they have successfully tested drones at the marine sanctuaries up at the channel islands, so I'd say it's a safe bet to say that they are most likely going to be used for MLPA enforcement.

It only makes sense if you think about it. The camera can clearly record who you are and what you are doing, and the tracking information can give them your location. It can patrol day and night for a week straight and all the officers have to do is take shifts at their desks and play with a joystick.

So you heard it here first the drones are coming to the reserves near you.

[jorluivil]

I could care less, I have nothing to hide.

[Cbad Mike]

Id lasso the f*cker and let it pull me around as I troll for Halibut.

[bubblehide]

There's a pretty nice thermal camera on that puppy. The safety of the dark is only an illusion, with all this tech.

[easyday]

Originally Posted by Cbad Mike

Id lasso the f*cker and let it pull me around as I troll for Halibut.

Haha kelp clip up....

[wbrewski]

Maybe it is the fish and game , sneekie bugers

[oneyedeer]

If it doesnt have any info on the drone itself.....can i hook one and take it home

[bus kid]

Since it camo'ed up and I dont see any lights or safety flag of any kind and its utilized in open waters and I run it over at 30 knots who be held responsible for any damages I incur?

[YakDout]

Originally Posted by bus kid

Since it camo'ed up and I dont see any lights or safety flag of any kind and its utilized in open waters and I run it over at 30 knots who be held responsible for any damages I incur?

Probably buy a new one via Uncle Sam.

[makobob]

Sorry officer, this thing was chasing my WSB, when it cut me off. So is it my fault it bit my Tady? I pratice catch and release on most species, but these things are multiplying too fast and are bad for our environment!!
On the positive side, they should hold their resale value.

Makobob

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by bus kid

Since it camo'ed up and I dont see any lights or safety flag of any kind and its utilized in open waters and I run it over at 30 knots who be held responsible for any damages I incur?

Yeah I can't see how this is even legal. If I take a motored boat out on the water it's required to have registration numbers displayed and running lights. What does happen if you hit the thing in the dark? What happens if it runs out of fuel and is adrift. Can you then pick it up as salvage. I imagine these things re not cheap.

[MrM]

Unmanned drones were flying today while I was on base in Los Al. They are in more places than you want to know.

Does anyone recognize the logos on the front and rear? I don't recognize the stickers. I vote military.

[MrPatrick]

N.O.A.A. Sticker on the orange one.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[alanw]

Could one of the stickers on the camo drone be Cal EPA?

[CheapPelican]

Do you think one of these things is smart enough to navigate its way through some kelp beds?

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by alanw

Could one of the stickers on the camo drone be Cal EPA?

They look like LA county fire department stickers to me.


That seems weird until you realize that the Lifeguards that were testing the rescue drones, are under the LA county fire departments jurisdiction. I'd guess they are testing the new surveillance drones not using them for enforcement just yet and the operators running them remotely are the same lifeguards that already know how to operate the rescue drones.

Anyone else notice this is drone #3 so there must be several of them.

[WildernessWanker]

I'd be interested to know if it sought out and propelled toward who took the pic, or if they had to paddle and catch up to it in order to snap the pic.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by WildernessWanker

I'd be interested to know if it sought out and propelled toward who took the pic, or if they had to paddle and catch up to it in order to snap the pic.

It's interesting. The story is he saw it and tried to paddle over to it and it took off, and would not let him get close enough for a good pic. Later it pulled up along side of him then cut across his bow like it was intentionally cutting him off.

After that it took off again and never came back. So in the pics it was messing with him

[WildernessWanker]

Yeah, it's one thing to figure out which agency placed it but another thing altogether to know exactly who is operating it and what their objective is.