KiteCam – a novel approach to low-cost aerial surveillance

The ever-growing need for surveillance over various geographical locations has necessitated the development of novel monitoring approaches. While drones are still considered the most suitable aerial surveillance equipment, new techniques based on use of kites such as kite aerial photography (KAP) are becoming popular. This paper deals with one such novel approach, termed as KiteCam, which provides a low-cost and versatile method of performing local aerial surveillance for a prolonged period. The camera, processor, battery and power management module have been designed and fabricated such that the total weight of the system is approximately 42 grams. Hence, the system is light enough to be carried by most kites under normal weather conditions, thus offering a wide variety of applications with minimal energy consumption and concealed surveillance options. The test flights have been successfully conducted and observed in terms of stability and duration. The images obtained from the flight tests have been analyzed and verified for consistency and clarity. Finally, some modifications have also been mentioned regarding the future generations of the device.