U.S. Army Crowdsources Video Surveillance

Technology developments and advances in encryption software will enable smaller-scale, self-contained 4G networks to stream surveillance video via cellphones to soldiers within the next two years.

It’s part of U.S. Army's Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS, pronounced "Jitters") program for disseminating video images to the battlefield that should be fielded by 2014, according to comments by Tim Owings, deputy program manager for Army unmanned aerial systems, to Reuters.

Textron, Raytheon, L-3 Communications and Sierra Nevada Corp. are all working on developing secure 4G network systems. Smaller contracts with exponentially larger residual effect — something the Pentagon could really use.

Spurred by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, efforts to develop and integrate new technologies have reached the point that, as Col. Jessie Farrington, assistant G-3 for operations and aviation at Army Forces Command told Defense News, "now the Army is working to institutionalize the lessons of the wars, where the persistent ground surveillance provided by unmanned aircraft teamed with the Kiowa Warrior has proven instrumental."

"We're probably going to look at that. We'd be somewhat short-sighted not to," said Owings to Reuters. Such systems would allow "pretty darn secure" transmission of data in limited areas to piggy-back with smart phones that are commercially available. 

Since the average soldier is familiar with smartphones, extensive training requirements and costs can be significantly reduced.  It jives with mounting pressure to reduce U.S. defense spending and the Pentagon’s commitment to "do more without more," adds Textro Systems CEO Fred Strader.

Technology advances that enable Textron's unmanned aerial plane, the Shadow, to be airborne longer, also aid the development of sending video images via cell phone.

The Army plans to create an experimental air cavalry squadron composed of 21 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters and eight RQ-7 Shadow UAVs to meet increasing demand for aerial reconnaissance over larger areas, more efficiently, with fewer forces.

Operations for the new hybrid squadron have drawn on feedback from aviation soldiers flying Kiowas and Shadows in Iraq and Afghanistan. “To boost input from the conflict zones, the Army uses a 'Wikipedia-like' collaboration site where deployed soldiers contribute ideas to keep the doctrine up to date,” Ellis Golson, director of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence's Capability Development and Integration Directorate commented.

Crowdsourcing for reconnaissance — certainly gives new meaning to UGC.