Because helicopters are already widely used, drones are not. Yet. Because a helicopter costs millions of dollars. A drone doesn't. A helicopter must be flown by a person. Drones can be automated. Are you starting to get the picture? 1 helicopter = 100 drones. Go read 1981 by Orwell. You'll begin to understand the concept of something being Orwellian.
>Because helicopters are already widely used, drones are not. Yet.
So what?
>Because a helicopter costs millions of dollars.
Drones that provide enough persistence for surveillance aren't anywhere near that cheap. DHS paid $180m for ten of them, making them far more expensive than the kind of helicopters police departments use.
>A helicopter must be flown by a person. Drones can be automated.
Sort of. The FAA is still going to require an operator in case there's some kind of air traffic situation. And someone still has to sort through whatever data the drone is providing, something that isn't automated.
>Are you starting to get the picture? 1 helicopter = 100 drones. Go read 1981 by Orwell. You'll begin to understand the concept of something being Orwellian.
Yeah, I get the picture. This is mostly hyperventilating. The statement you can buy and operate 100 drones for the cost of one helicopter displays a complete disconnect from reality. You need to do a little reading up on what kinds of capabilities drones offer at what cost.
Errr ... those are Predators. Literally the military model. You know, the ones that can shoot missiles and stuff.
Nobody is talking about that.
I can stick a battery powered WiFi cam on a model airplane and get remote surveillance that doesn't cost 18 million. This is the same issue as plastering cameras at every intersection.
Guess what? My town just did that. They have cameras on almost every intersection. That's sick.
>I can stick a battery powered WiFi cam on a model airplane and get remote surveillance that doesn't cost 18 million.
Sure, you can. And you'll get what you pay for in terms of useful images. Far from your Orwellian fantasy, your little plane will only be in the sky for a few minutes, meaning you can't use it for surveillance.
>Guess what? My town just did that. They have cameras on almost every intersection. That's sick.
That's a totally different issue, and one on which we agree. What they've done in the UK is a travesty, and I don't want to see it where I live.
>Wake up.
Oh, I see. The only reason I wouldn't agree with you is because I'm sleeping. Idiot.
