Military spy robot - that looks like a dumbell?
(7 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)
The Recon Scout gadget is a gadget that any budding spy would love to have. It features a highly robust and small two-wheeled robot with a tiny wireless camera. The device uses a simple wireless receiver to control it, which can be operated with a single hand using a thumbs-operated remote control. What’s impressive about the Recon Scout is that it can withstand a high degree of force, it can survive a vertical throw of 120 feet (36.5 metres) and a vertical drop of 30 feet (9.14 metres)!
Clearly the prime market for the Recon Scout is for the military and enforcement agencies. You can see this being used as a prelude to raids, rescues, information gathering about explosives and any other hostile situations in which a quick video surveillance solution is required for initial intelligence gathering. It takes less than 20 seconds to prepare the device for deployment, and virtually any muppet can operate it too.
The Recon Scout is just 1 pound in weight (0.5kg), 7 inches long and 1.5 inches in diameter (17.78cm by 3.81cm). It is extremely quiet and makes less than 20dB of noise, of which 30dB is measured from a whisper. It only features a black and white camera, but the camera is sensitive down to 0.0003 lux, which is virtual darkness to the human eye. It can transmit video up to 100 feet (30.5 metres) indoors which is roughly the same as any conventional spy camera. It’s speed is rather slow at only 10cm per second (on short-pile carpet), but this is to avoid detection and keep the noise levels down.
At a cost of $6500, its considered a disposable surveillance tool! That’s really shocking to think if that’s disposable, how much are the armed forces spending on wars? Avoiding the political perspectives on wars, a cost of $6500 does explain the high specification of the device.
If you fancy making your own remote controlled spy car for a lot less than $6500, the 101 Spy Gadgets for the Evil Genius does give you step-by-step instructions on how to make one. Perhaps you can add a bulletproof vest and sell it to the military?
You can see some interesting photos on the Recon Scout and read some of the uses suggested by the manufacturer. The Recon Scout was discovered thanks to the Danger Room.
