Westport, Connecticut police announced this week that they were testing specially equipped drones to detect when people on the ground have a fever. These devices will also serve to determine when a person approaches less than a meter and a half from another and warn them through a microphone.
The new drone technology has been developed by the company Draganfly Inc., which used the Westport police quadcopters to add the new feature of social surveillance at the time of the coronavirus. In addition, for the development he had the help of the company Vital intelligence and researchers at the University of South Australia.
Through the drone it will be possible to detect when a person approaches less than a meter and a half from another, something that in practice looks like the Terminator vision. The guide from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that this is the minimum safe distance, because theoretically it is the maximum that the tiny drops expelled in a sneeze or strong cough can travel.
Drone operators will use the technology of Draganfly to see citizens with a green circle if they are at a safe distance and with a red one if they exceed it.
The local NBC affiliate in Connecticut followed police into a warehouse and was able to observe how social distancing rules were apparently violated, according to drone detection software.
“The ‘Let’s Flatten the Curve Program’ and associated technology will provide an innovative tool to help the community practice social distancing, while identifying potential coronavirus carriers and disease symptoms,” writes the Police Department of Westport on Facebook, which has also stated that this surveillance method will allow it to protect its personnel.
Thanks to 4K cameras and software Draganfly Also used militarily in countries like Australia, drones can detect everything from the air, from the rhythm of the heartbeat to respiratory abnormalities.
The police statement specifies that these devices will monitor “at risk” populations but will not trespass on anyone’s private property. Still, it still seems like something out of a science fiction dystopia, as seen in the promotional videos:
“The drone software uses biometric readings to understand population patterns and to react quickly to current events and potential health threats. The goal is to provide better monitoring of risk groups, including the elderly; as well as crowds gathered at beaches, train stations, parks, shopping malls and recreation areas. This will not be used on home patios nor will facial recognition technology be used, ”added the published statement.
So far, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, Connecticut has 20,000 cases of covid-19 and nearly 1,500 deaths. The United States as a whole has already surpassed 888,000 infected, with at least 50,000 confirmed deaths, the highest number in the world.
Source: Gizmodo.
