Company offers private surveillance drone

A Japanese company says it will offer flying drone surveillance technology, previously restricted to governments and the military, to private security firms. Secom says its automated flying surveillance robot can fly on its own and can be programmed to patrol the grounds of a facility, TG Daily reported Friday. The device, built by Ascending Technologies but with software and cameras from Secom, is a four-rotor helicopter with a small frame around the outside to help protect the rotors from damage. Laser sensors give the drone the capability to automatically track moving subjects from a distance and record any crime in progress, Secom said. "The flying robot could take off if our online security systems detect any unauthorized entry," Secom spokesperson Asuka Saito said. "It would enable us to quickly check out what's actually happening on the spot." The autonomous drone, just 24 inches wide and weighing 3.5 pounds, will allow managers of large facilities to monitor areas that lack fixed cameras, Secom said. Japanese companies will be able to rent the flying camera system as part of the Secom online security system package for about $58 a month beginning in 2014, the company said.