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"All fiction is propaganda, and the fiction we like is the propaganda we believe in, and the fiction we don't like is the propaganda we don't believe in."
- Samuel R. Delany
 |
| Copseye | ||
| A small floating "eye-in-the-sky" surveillance drone used by police in an extensive park. |
In this near-future story, areas are set aside as anarchy zones. Police use a special kind of remote surveillance drone watch to ensure that there is no physical violence, but are otherwise uninvolved.
| Someone at police headquarters had expected that. Twice the usual number of copseyes floated overhead, waiting. Gold dots ageist blue, basketball-sized, twelve feet up. Each a television eye and a sonic stunner, each a hookup to police headquarters, they were there to enforce the law of the Park. No violence. |
| From Cloak of Anarchy,
by Larry Niven. Published by Analog in 1972 Additional resources -
|
This story is an interesting exploration of the concept of anarchy in a real setting. Makes for an interesting contrast with the same kind of setting in Robert Heinlein's Coventry (if you did not agree to live up to the rules of society, you were given the choice to live with the asocials in a fenced-in environment).
Remote drones are under development to serve a variety of purposes.
The Traffic Surveillance Drone project in Georgia has a ducted fan drone under development; it uses an aluminum chassis with a carbon composite body structure to provide stability.
You might also want to check out the endearing entry for little bird, from Darwin's Children by Greg Bear.
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Cloak of Anarchy
More Ideas
and Technology by Larry Niven
Tech news articles related to Cloak of Anarchy
Tech news articles related to works by Larry Niven
Copseye-related
news articles:
- Eye Ball R1 Remote Surveillance Camera
- SkySeer UAV Drone Soars Over L.A.
- Small Robot Surveillance Balloons Like Niven's Copseye
- Hovering Crowd Control Beam
| ViconRevue Records Every Minute of Your Life |
| Yes, Internet Eyes Is A 'Snooper's Paradise' |
| See Through Walls With Wireless Networks |
| Secret GPS Tracking Devices Legal |
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Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.
