Potential robospies spotted at political events

Yeah, it's very possible that reports of "robospies" at political events are nothing more than propaganda or the result of blurred vision, but a number of protesters have recently been "seeing" creatures that appear to be "large dragonflies" while out exercising their rights. Some folks noted that they were akin to "little helicopters," and while "no agency admits to having deployed insect-size spy drones," there's always the possibility. As you know, it's not impossible to add spy abilities to bug-like robots and rodents, but many experts question the ability of a camera-equipped device that minuscule to collect useful information in a crowd. Regardless, this is one sure to get the privacy advocates all riled up.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[Ken @ Oct 9th 2007 2:01PM]

...then bring a friggin butterfly net to the next rally.

[randy @ Oct 9th 2007 2:13PM]

Dragonflies at Hillary Clinton speeches? Hey, at least something was moving in the audience.

[DorianGray @ Oct 9th 2007 3:31PM]

!!!!11!1!!!1 nice !!!!1!!111111!!11

[randy @ Oct 9th 2007 3:43PM]

Yeah, I guess they were probably feeding on the crickets. [crickets]

[Eric Sweeney @ Oct 9th 2007 3:08PM]

Back in 2004, I went to a Bush Speech at the Lackawanna County Stadium (now home of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Yankees) as part of his re-election campaign. While waiting for the speakers we were in a crowd on the field packed very closely and twice I recall seeing a large dragonfly fly over our heads, maybe 10 feet from the ground. The weird thing was it flew in the same direction both times. It also appeared larger than a regular dragon fly and I remarked to my friend (avid outdoorsmen and hunter) about it and he agreed. I remember seeing on TechTV (at the time, G4 now) that surveillance equipment has been fit into small animal-like forms but not until now have I heard any other, uh information on it. I guess they were a nice compliment to the snipers in the eves of the stadium and the police in full SWAT regalia at the entrances.

[mcphja2 @ Oct 9th 2007 2:25PM]

Probably those "little helicopters" sold at the mall.

...Paranoid hippies

[bombastinator @ Oct 10th 2007 1:04AM]

little black helicopters

What would they do at a rally anyway? What is there to going that can't be done by a person. They're public events after all.

[Craig @ Oct 9th 2007 2:25PM]

nice... a high-tech fly on the wall

[Razor @ Oct 9th 2007 2:26PM]

I think the protesters need to stay away from the wacky weed whenever they are protesting.

[Rainier @ Oct 9th 2007 2:28PM]

Poly Ticks.

[brian @ Oct 9th 2007 2:52PM]

I first read about this in 1974!
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Dunn,_Invisible_Boy )

"Dr. Bullfinch is able to use this altered material to create ISIT (the Invisibility Simulator with Intromittent Transmission), a dragonfly-like probe which could be piloted with a virtual reality helmet and gauntlet gloves."
...
"The General reveals (in very authoritarian language) he wishes to use ISIT as a tool to spy not only on enemy governments, but against citizens as well. "

[Peppie @ Oct 9th 2007 2:33PM]

I knew this would start happening after Y2K got covered up. Well, better get my tin-foil hat out...

[j @ Oct 9th 2007 5:56PM]

What kind of monarchy are we living in?

[Skon @ Oct 10th 2007 5:56AM]

Hi J,

Not sure if it's a monarchy but looking at this 'bug' I'm begining to suspect that we need to prepair for the coming of "Technocrocy". Rule by machines! I'm stocking my secret underground bunker with canned goods, bottled water, medicene etc, and building my own private EMP device that runs off of solar power. That way when our new machine masters take over I can hide in woods and zap any that come near. ;-)

Regards,
Skon

[mcphja2 @ Oct 9th 2007 2:33PM]

Here are some Dragonflies and tiny helicopters. Lets all take them to protests and drive them over the edge!

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2585632&cp=2032062.2032402.2032406&parentPage=family

http://www.radioshack.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2032402&cp=2032062

[rp @ Oct 9th 2007 2:42PM]

Because, nobody ever suspects the dragonfly! mwahahaha

[Maxseamus @ Oct 9th 2007 2:50PM]

Honestly I think i have seen one of these in the city. I saw a large dragon fly in the city one day flying all around. It was bumping and knocking into things and I had to get out of it's way several times. I grew up in the suburbs and have seen many dragonflys and how they fly about. This one seemed like it was out of control. I thought it was fake but then I just shrugged it off and figured it was probably just a really big regular dragonfly.

[GameboyRMH @ Oct 9th 2007 5:17PM]

Maxseamus, sounds very much like you saw a Wowee Flytech Dragonfly.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2585632&cp=2032062.2032402.2032406&parentPage=family

It takes some experience to fly them properly, and if there's anything stronger than a slight breeze you have zero control.

[rcappo @ Oct 9th 2007 2:38PM]

I wonder if the cheerleaders thought there were a lot more bugs at their summercamp this year?

[logiclust @ Oct 9th 2007 3:33PM]

i've seen various UAVs flying around Palo Alto/Stanford/280... no joke.

[runbuh @ Oct 9th 2007 3:02PM]

Evidently old hat for the CIA:

http://www.tjwaters.com/tools.htm

[newlegend852004 @ Oct 10th 2007 12:38PM]

Iv seen those on The History ch.

[Anthony Huff @ Oct 9th 2007 3:13PM]

Do I get arrested for destroying federal property if I whacked it with a fly swatter?

[Ant @ Oct 9th 2007 3:51PM]

I recon they've been using these things for years. Most of them were developed in the UK some years ago at DERA a military research base, the same place they first developed LCD screens. I remember hearing about them in the early 90's from someone that worked there. They used to use a spiral-prop, essentially a lightweight flexible tube with small prop fins along its length, it spins along an internal flexible shaft, lift is produced, it flies. To turn it used some kind of internal ligament. How they powered it etc, I have no idea. Not sure what they used for cameras or batteries but it always sounded a bit daft to me.

I also remember talk about using actual dragon flies that had been lobotomised to respond to electrical impulses to make them fly via a remote. I guess they used dragon flies because they have the most powerful lift of any insect and they can grow to massive sizes is fed the right mix of steroids. Strap a camera and remote backpack on them (helmet and goggle
,lol) and away you go.

[Wes @ Oct 9th 2007 3:51PM]

This is obviously the work of the nefarious Monarch!!

[trevor @ Oct 9th 2007 8:33PM]

Thank you for that. From all of us who get the reference, thank you :) Brilliant!

[newlegend852004 @ Oct 10th 2007 12:39PM]

:P..

[Michael @ Oct 9th 2007 4:17PM]

I, for one, welcome our robotic insect overlords.

[KentN @ Oct 9th 2007 5:03PM]

Well, while many leftist protests are shroom-friendly and paranoid, it's not as if anyone with any brains wouldn't be able to get the same intel via long range microphones, telephoto cameras, and just ATTENDING THE DAMN RALLY, now is it? Why waste good intel devices on THIS LOT?
This reminds me of the hideously obese woman with her transgendered lover who thinks Homeland Security is so Bush can spy on them in their bedroom. Um, no one interested in keeping lunch down would spy on them in their bedroom.

[bobmundo123 @ Oct 9th 2007 5:18PM]

damn nixon.. u got the whole spy thing started

[Smells Fishy @ Oct 9th 2007 5:19PM]

Sounds like something out of the Michael Crichton book "Prey"--

"Within hours of his arrival at the remote testing center, Jack discovers his wife's firm has created self-replicating nanotechnology--a literal swarm of microscopic machines. Originally meant to serve as a military eye in the sky, the swarm has now escaped into the environment and is seemingly intent on killing the scientists trapped in the facility."

[silvarga @ Oct 9th 2007 5:26PM]

Does this mean that one day the Paparazzi will be replaced and Paris Hilton will subsequently be followed by a plague of Locust-bots?

[jroc @ Oct 9th 2007 5:40PM]

What kind of monarchy are we running in this country?

[jroc @ Oct 9th 2007 5:45PM]

What kind of monarchy are we running in this country?

[Mike @ Oct 10th 2007 7:57AM]

A proud one.

Now shaddap.

[Alistair loveless @ Oct 10th 2007 11:15AM]

Why not cover how to build/ buy one? I wonder what kind of range these have and yeah this is tottally something the cia has been using

[Renato @ Oct 9th 2007 7:22PM]

It's the patriots!

[Grey Acumen @ Oct 9th 2007 9:29PM]

Nobody expects the Spanish Mayfly!