Mission 2: Vehicle Tracking and Surveillance [Oct. 2003]

Mission Videos

Mission 2 [*.mov 26.6MB ], [*.mp4 17.4MB]
Mission 2 flight log [*.jpeg]

Mission Context

The Swedish equivalent of the DEA and the border patrol and customs authorities are up against increasingly more sophisticated leagues of smugglers trading in humans, drugs, cigarretes, alcohol and even radioactive substances. UAVs can certainly play a large role in assisting these authorities in the area of monitoring, reconnaissance, surveillance, and remote sensor placement to identify dangerous substances. Missions of this sort generally require a large amount of patience, waiting for events to take place over large periods of time. Combined use of both manned and unmanned resources should generally increase the effciency with which such missions are executed and completed. The following scenario is intended to demonstrate some of the functionality that could be used in such missions. This particular mission focuses on surveillance and tracking activities.

Pre-Mission Prep

The leaders of a notorious criminal cartel dealing in drugs and human smuggling has recently been identifed by Swedish authorities. Their current operational headquarters has also been identifed through anonymous tips from an opposing cartel enraged by the violent disappearance of fellow members. The authorities have staked out the headquarters, placing a UAV in the area with a signature for the vehicle currently believed to be used by the 2 leaders of the cartel. In addition, a hidden camera and operative have been placed on a nearby roof in the hopes of collecting evidence against the cartel and the 2 leaders. The headquarters is believed to be at the corner of Skolvägen and Hamngatan in a makeshift garage. The 2 leaders are believed to be in the garage with a stolen vehicle.

Mission Goal

Monitor the activities around the garage using a UAV and hidden camera. If the stolen vehicle is observed leaving the garage, track it with the UAV and collect video streams of the vehicles movement and activities of the 2 leaders or any of their subordinates.

Scenario Sequence

1. Take-off (manually) from Home Base
2. Place the UAV over and behind the garage and switch to autonomous
   hover mode.
3. Wait for vehicle or other activity
4. At some point a vehicle will emerge from the garage. Begin tracking
   it and collect video streams using the UAV camera.
5. Conclude mission when low on fuel or the vehicle returns to the
   garage.
6. Land (manually) at Home Base.