Police launch eye-in-the-sky technology above LA

Police launched the future of law enforcement into the smoggy Los Angeles sky on Friday in the form of a drone aircraft, bringing technology most commonly associated with combat zones to urban policing. The unmanned aerial vehicle, which looks like a child’s remote control toy and weighs about 5lb (2.3kg), is a prototype being tested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Police say the drone, called the SkySeer, will be able to accomplish tasks too dangerous for officers and free up helicopters for other missions. “This technology could be used to find missing children, search for lost hikers, or survey a fire zone,” said Commander Sid Heal, head of the Technology Exploration Project of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The SkySeer would also be a helpful tool to nab burglary suspects on rooftops and to chase down suspects fleeing on foot. The drone comes equipped with low-light and infrared capabilities and can fly at speeds up to 30mph (48kph) for 70 minutes. The plane collapses and can fit into a shoulder pack smaller than a golf bag. Its portability and ease of assembly could be a big advantage for law enforcement. “It’s basically a high-tech kite that field officers could set up in a matter of minutes,” said Heal.