Octatron SkySeer

The Octatron SkySeer, also known as The Octatron, is a close-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for easy transport and launch. It is designed and manufactured by Octatron, Incorporated in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.

Intended for short-range operations, the electric-powered SkySeer resembles a normal radio-controlled airplane or two-meter glider. The SkySeer is hand-launched by its operator and its flight functions can be handled by GPS including landings. The range is approximately two miles/3.2 km and is extendable via Octatron's NetWeaver interface.

A fully loaded SkySeer retails for approximately US$25,000 to $30,000 which includes all electronics, video surveillance equipment, ground station, and computer interfaces. The video interface is in real time and allows the operator to see what the drone sees and to record it as such stores up to twenty hours of high-quality MPEG-2 format video which can then be transferred to DVD or Macromedia Flash.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is currently experimenting with the SkySeer as a means of crime prevention. At present, the experiment has been suspended by the Federal Aviation Administration due to the agency's claim of lack of adequate permits. Although the FAA does not regulate model aircraft, it does have jurisdiction over unmanned aerial vehicles.[1]