Narc Copter

Flying robots hunt for drugs

By Stuart Fox Posted 05.05.2009 at 2:41 pm 5 Comments

Pot Sign Luckily, nothing on that sign says I can't stand here and do some PCP courtesy of David Silverline, via Flickr.com

What happened to you, Holland? You used to be cool. As every popped-collar, half-witted frat boy and Bonnaroo-attending, blond dreadlock-wearing neo-hippie moron repeats ad nauseum, you were the country kindest to the kind bud.

Well, apparently Dutch robots aren't quite so accepting of a little puff now and then. According to De Telegraaf, the Dutch police have turned to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to stop the illegal growing of marijuana on Dutch soil.

That's because, despite what Harold and Kumar might tell you, marijuana is not legal in Holland. In fact, the Dutch spend more per capita on drug enforcement than any other country in the EU except Sweden. The ability to buy, sell, and consume marijuana in coffee shops results from a non-enforcement priority, not legalization. All of which leaves growing the plant rather illegal.

And that's where the new drug copter comes in. This miniature remote controlled helicopter has an electronic nose on the bottom of the fuselage. The UAV, which can loiter in the air for several hours, uses its chemical-detecting noise to find pot-growing operations, and then uses its on-board camera to help police close in on the growers. So far, the helicopter has been so successful that Dutch police found a pot farm during the very first test flight.

Robots hunting out pot? Dude, the very thought of it just killed my buzz.

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5 Comments

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Adam_Musial

from Shawnigan Lake, British Columiba

05/06/09 at 10:32 am

What are the costs of these UAVs?
I hope not to expensive for when it's destroyed and they want to make a another one.
Soon growers will catch on and just shoot it down or find someway to get rid of it.

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AMP13

05/06/09 at 11:39 am

Buzzkill.

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Oakspar77777

05/07/09 at 9:29 am

Shooting down police propety - not exactly a smart move. (1) You have just gotten yourself at least two criminal counts for shooting it. (2) You have fired first, meaning the cops are coming in armed and anxious (not the cop you want arresting you). (3) You are going to be fined for your damages (and will have your assets sezed to pay for a new one).

While the tech seems good for Holland, I'm not sure it would be as effective in a larger area, like the US, where pot growths may larger, but also be thousands of acres apart.

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Ruri

05/12/09 at 1:42 pm

I expect they will start loosing these UAVs soon.
yes they will shoot them down by why waste ammo when you probably could launch a net at it and take it down.
If the police kill someone because they shot down a UAV a little flying toy there could be very severe backlash esp in Holland.
Any human life is worth more then a toy robot.
As for destroying police property charges this has not stopped people from destroying license plate scanning cameras in the UK the so called road side big brother.

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