▲Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US (via The Guardian)
美墨边境上的海关边境巡逻监控气球(图 via AFP)
五角大楼从偏远的南达科他州放飞了25个无人驾驶太阳能气球,飞行高度达到65000英尺。它们从南达科他州升空,漂浮250英里,途经明尼苏达、爱荷华、威斯康星和密苏里州的部分区域,最后在伊利诺伊州中部降落。
(图 via Getty Images)
此外,这些由美国国防部的南方司令部(United States Southern Command)放飞的气球还搭载了不少设备。
The balloons also carry small vehicles containing sensors and communications equipment。 The loadout includes a synthetic aperture radar designed to be able to detect every single moving car or boat active in a 25-mile field beneath the balloon。
这些气球还携带装有传感器和通讯设备的小型运载工具。载荷包括一个合成孔径雷达,设计用来探测气球下方25英里区域内移动着的每一辆汽车或每一艘船只。
The craft operate as a network, fitted with advanced mesh networking technologies meaning they can communicate with one another。 The balloons can pass information—including video—to each other and to receivers on the ground。
这些气球配备了先进的网状网络技术,运作起来成为一个网络,意味着它们可以彼此通信。气球可以互相传递信息,包括视频,也可以传递给地面上的接收器。
The Guardian suggested the balloons may be carrying Sierra Nevada‘s advanced Gorgon Stare video capture system, which is already in use in U.S。 military drones。 The Pentagon has also used Gorgon Stare on surveillance blimps in Afghanistan。 It consists of nine cameras recording panoramic images, enabling operators to capture activity across an entire city at once。