Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) of Anna University has deployed a ‘tethered copter’, the advanced version of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), for high endurance and accurate capturing of images during Thevar jayanthi.
The university’s Centre for Aerospace Research team, headed by its Director K. Senthil Kumar, developed the new version after four years of research, and it was deployed for full-fledged operation for the first time here, M. Muthu, a postgraduate student of avionics, heading the five-member team, said.
After launching the test-flight of the vehicle here on Sunday, Superintendent of Police Omprakash Meena told reporters that deployment of 8,000 police personnel commenced on Saturday for peaceful conduct of the 55th guru puja and the 110th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar on Monday.
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The ‘tethered copter’ was demonstrated to Defence Research and Development Organisation when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rameswaram on July 27 for the inauguration of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam National Memorial, Mr Muthu said.
Fitted with a ‘30X zoom camera’, the UAV, a first of its kind in the country, would fly at a height of 150 metres covering a radius of five km, and it could be airborne for four hours. The high definition camera would capture even small movements in the area and transmit images to the special control room, he added.
Besides, the South Zone police technical team, led by Sub-Inspector Vignesh, deployed a ‘quadcopter’, fitted with a ‘10X camera’ and ‘target tracking system’. It would also cover a radius of five km, but it could be airborne for only about 45 minutes, he said.
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Both the UAVs had vertical take-off and landing facilities, he said, adding while the ‘tethered copter’ would be positioned static in the air, the ‘quad copter’ would be manoeuvred.
A Chennai-based private agency has deployed Face Detection Cameras, also for the first time, to automatically recognise known accused and alert the police at the control room. The SP inspected the installation of the cameras in Pasumpon area.
Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police (South Zone) Shailesh Kumar Yadav and DIGs, including Pradeep Kumar (Madurai, in-charge of Ramanathapuram range) inspected security arrangements. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads combed the memorial site.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, Ministers, sidelined AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran and leaders of various political parties are scheduled to pay homage to the leader on Monday.