Tether Copter, aerial surveillance by MIT as part of security arrangements for Modi’s visit to Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore
Coimbatore sources have stated that the intensified security arrangements come in the backdrop of escalating threat perceptions of intelligence agencies during the visit of VVIPs to Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu police were put on alert to keep a close watch on the activities of “Muslim fundamentalists, their supporters and accused who are on bail and may pose a threat to the VVIPs.”
Sources have stated that the two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the Tether Copter has been deployed to hover at an altitude of 100 meters. It can rotate up to 360 degrees and capture live images over a 2 km radius and this is the first time that the Tether Copter has been put to use as part of VVIP security. Additional Director-General of Police (Law and order) J.K. Tripathy, Inspector-General of Police (Technical Services) M.C. Sarangan and a team of scientists from MIT are managing the serial security systems that are being monitored from a special control room established in the area.
K. Senthil Kumar, Director,
Centre for Aerospace Research, MIT had said that they have come across the
Tether Copter being deployed for data-border security in Israel during a visit there
recently. Our systems have been developed on those lines. It is very
dependable, effective and secure when it comes to capturing images and data
security. The Tether Copter can hover for four hours continuously and fly again
after a 30-minute cooling period.