Two Canterbury University post graduate students have come up with a miniature surveillance aircraft similar to those used by the US military.
It looks like a normal radio controlled plane but it uses kiwi-made electronics, GPS and air pressure sensors to allow it to fly unmanned along a pre-programmed route.
With cameras and other sensors on board the designers believe it has huge commercial possibilities.
"There's a lot of surveillance, forestry surveillance, greenery, winery and farming which is already done in Australia," says co-designer John Stowers.
Reportedly cheaper than traditional aerial photography methods, the device could also be used in real estate and border control monitoring.
The plane was the final project of Stowers' and Hugo Vincent's
electrical engineering degrees and with more development they think
it could potentially be much smaller.
In the months ahead the duo will be working on the second
generation of software and a new airframe to attempt a flight
across the Tasman next year.
