Investigational helicopter demonstrated on Reeves lawn lawn
Last week, Sergeant Brad Horne of the Utah Department of Public Safety, demonstrated a remote controlled helicopter used by the Highway Patrol for accident and crime scene investigations for Dr. Richard Walton’s CJ1355 crime scene Investigation class.
Last week, Sergeant Brad Horne of the Utah Department of Public Safety, demonstrated a remote controlled helicopter used by the Highway Patrol for accident and crime scene investigations for Dr. Richard Walton’s CJ1355 crime scene Investigation class.
These helicopters are small versions of full-size helicopters, but are remotely controlled by a person activating a control unit on the ground. A special frame containing a full size digital camera is mounted to a platform mounted to the skids of the helicopter, and is also controlled electronically. The controller wears a special eyepiece headset and can simultaneously look through the glasses to view what the helicopter sees from altitudes up to 13,000 feet as well as view the helicopter from his ground station.
The ground controller activates the helicopter similar to how radio controlled airplane enthusiasts fly similar airplanes and helicopters, but using more advanced technology. From a ground location, the controller flies the helicopter above the area to be photographed, and then takes a series of aerial pictures of the scenes by remote control. Such images are invaluable aids in many investigations and present a perspective that assists in the investigations, such as graphically showing the distance relationships between two points.
Sergeant Horne’s presentation demonstrated for students advanced technology currently utilized in law enforcement investigations, and is part of the course that introduces students to the practices and methodologies of investigating crime scenes.
