K-9's wearing cameras

953 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Jim Nash, Apr 1, 2006

Patrick Murray

Discussion Starter · Mar 30, 2006

Cool. 8)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4497212.stm

Dog cameras to combat gun crime
Police have collared the latest in technology by kitting out their firearms dogs with cameras.
New recruits to the Northumbria Police force are German shepherds Sammy, five, and three-year-old Zara.

They have been trained to help during armed sieges and wear miniature television cameras with transmitters fitted to their heads or harnesses.

It means they can search buildings and relay the information back to officers.

The Fido camera system also has infra-red lights, which means pictures can be provided in darkness.
Pictures are seen on a receiver unit carried by the dog handler who can watch the progress of the four-legged recruits searching for armed suspects.

Zara and Sammy have also been trained to leave a mobile phone at the front door of under-siege premises so officers can negotiate with suspects.

Advanced searching

They were picked out an early age for the role and have undergone rigorous training.

PC Jim Soutar, who has responsibility for the force's firearms dogs, said: \"I'm constantly looking at general purpose dogs throughout the force and if I think they have got potential I will give them a development programme.

\"We're looking for dogs with above average drive who can operate under stressful conditions.\"

The dogs' skills include the ability to perform advanced searching without being distracted.

They are controlled through hand gestures or, if they are out of sight, through voice alone.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/4497212.stm

Published: 2005/12/04 13:35:12 GMT

© BBC MMVI

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Bob Scott

· #2 · Mar 31, 2006

I don't mean to interrupt a forum I'm not qualified to be in but, MAN! I would have LOVED to have a tiny one of those cameras when I did all the earth work with my terriers. Up close and personel with a big old ****/groundhog/fox/possum would have rocked! As it was, the only pics I have of quarry were either AFTER we dug the dogs out, or a few where I stuck my arm/camera down ahead of the dogs face when we got to him. That always made the tiny little hairs on my neck stand up a bit.

:lol: :lol:

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Mike Schoonbrood

· #3 · Mar 31, 2006

Those are pretty cool, I could definately see the benefit in that doing earth work.

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Connie Sutherland

· #4 · Mar 31, 2006

Mike Schoonbrood said:
Those are pretty cool, I could definately see the benefit in that doing earth work.

I'll say!

I hope maybe Jim will comment on this. (I don't belong here either but want to read about it.)

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Woody Taylor

· #5 · Mar 31, 2006

What kind of weight is a fully-outfitted PSD or Military dog carrying around on a consistent basis?

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Jim Nash

· #6 · Mar 31, 2006

I want my PSD to be as unhindered by equipment as possible . The majority of PSD's are usually working with only a Collar (e-collar , choke , prong , leather) , that's it , sometimes on or off-leash depending on the situation .

As for the camera it's worth a look at but for the majority of real SWAT calls I've worked with my dogs , I don't see it practical . I can't see getting a steady picture due to the dog moving and breathing . Most of the houses I've had my K9 search have been so cluttered with stuff that camera would be bumping and getting caught on things . There are other ways to get a look into areas with cameras .

I'd have to actually work with a dog camera for awhile to give a real qualified answer though .

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Hil Harrison

· #7 · Mar 31, 2006

Are these camera's just being tested still or are they being used on a daily basis already?

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Woody Taylor

· #8 · Apr 1, 2006

Jim Nash said:
I want my PSD to be as unhindered by equipment as possible . The majority of PSD's are usually working with only a Collar (e-collar , choke , prong , leather) , that's it , sometimes on or off-leash depending on the situation .

As for the camera it's worth a look at but for the majority of real SWAT calls I've worked with my dogs , I don't see it practical . I can't see getting a steady picture due to the dog moving and breathing . Most of the houses I've had my K9 search have been so cluttered with stuff that camera would be bumping and getting caught on things . There are other ways to get a look into areas with cameras .

I'd have to actually work with a dog camera for awhile to give a real qualified answer though .

That's interesting feedback, Jim, I appreciate it. I was wondering about the shaky movement, particularly on the head. I think you could get around that with gyroscopic stabilization, even two cameras, or whatever.

I would be interested to hear your and others' perspectives on the usefulness of cameras, sensors, and recording equipment on animals. I would think the ability to detect radiation, electromagnetic signatures, actively identify items of interest (e.g., the dog goes through the house, the camera identifies flammable/explosive stuff like meth lab equipment) would all be valuable if it's cost effective. Off the top of my head, I would think having an active RFID sensor might be interesting...over the next few years, pretty much everything will start getting RFIDs on them...imagine having a drug detection dog at an airport that can also get a signal when they walk by any kind of luggage also owned by the suspect you just apprehended? Or a dog that was trained to wear a camera and hard drive to record you arresting someone for documentation after the fact?

I'm not a police dog guy but my company and me are involved in the development of some of the gadgetry that would make stuff like I describe possible. Any thoughts you have, send them my way.

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Jim Nash

· #9 · Apr 1, 2006

Woody ,

I'm not a gadget person and when working my dog I just don't like having stuff on him that could effect his movement . I'd rather leave most of that stuff up to our robots , pole cameras and other specialized cameras . I'm sure there are plenty of K9 Handlers that wouldn't mind doing that kind of stuff though and I will have an open mind to checking them out if I get the chance .

I have seen some of the new detection devices out there to be used in airports and I was impressed . I think in a few more years we are going to see alot more of these devices and many great improvements in them . Just leave them off MY dog (for now).

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