[liberationtech] Drones for Human Rights

[The Doctor]

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On 02/02/2012 08:26 PM, Chip Pitts wrote:
> A group at Singularity University here in Silicon Valley this past
> summer launched a start-up that uses drones for humanitarian
> applications, such as to deliver medical supplies in developing
> countries lacking roads:

I found the reference in question.

It is in _Wired For War_ by Dr. P.W. Singer (hardback edition),
chapter 13 (Open-Source Warfare: College Kids, Terrorists, and Other
New Users of Robots at War).  In fact, the story opens the chapter,
which I will summarize:

In 2005 a newly graduated political science student named Sam Bell set
out with two colleagues to buy a military-grade robotic weapons system
for the purpose of intervening in the genocide in Darfur.  They raised
approximately half a million US dollars in a year's time and, after
looking into hiring a PMC (Private Military Contractor) to fly their
UAVs on surveillance missions into Sudan, but balked at the price
(around $200 million US dollars per year for such a contract).  They
wound up not going with that plan because the risks outweighed the
potential benefits.

Apparently, PMCs own military-grade UAVs, and tailor the prices of
their contracts to how old the models are.

Looking up what GI-NET (Genocide Intervention NETwork) is up to these
days may provide more useful information.

I would also suggest that interested parties do some research on what
the open source UAV community is up to these days - there are many
projects publishing blueprints and source code for working units, from
the Vulture to the OccuCopter.

- -- 
The Doctor [412/724/301/703]

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"The monster never sees the monster in the mirror." --J. Michael
Straczynski

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