Lithuanian Cigarette Smuggling Drone Captured by Russians!

[unokitty]

... the aircraft with a wing-spread of up to four meters had been made in Lithuania and had been radio-controlled from Earth. A GPS system had been built into it for navigation that made it possible for a drone operator to control the flight on a 3D card. The drone could take over 10 kilograms of cargo onboard.

Article is a bit short on details. Slightly different article from Motherboard.vice.com

Wonder why they didn't negotiate with Iran to get some US Stealth Drone technology.

Uno

 

[Thebobo]

lol

Lithuanian drone detained

So its going to post bail?

 

[werepossum]

lol

Lithuanian drone detained

So its going to post bail?

LOL! Hey, cigarette-smuggling drones are people too! (I wonder if it voted for part of Lithuania to join Russia . . .)

My favorite part:

It was established that the aircraft with a wing-spread of up to four meters had been made in Lithuania and had been radio-controlled from Earth.

So hopefully we can rule out cigarette-smuggling aliens.

 

[CrackRabbit]

LOL! Hey, cigarette-smuggling drones are people too! (I wonder if it voted for part of Lithuania to join Russia . . .)

My favorite part:


So hopefully we can rule out cigarette-smuggling aliens.

Hey, E.T. just wants his pack of Camels.

 

[unokitty]

The autonomous aircraft, which had a four-meter (13-foot) wingspan, flew close to the ground following GPS waypoints and released cigarette cartons from its cargo bay at designated drop zones.

Additionally, the unit could conduct surveillance, was equipped with a camera and had an automatic flight route which is set in advance."

Ars had a photo. More photos here.

Apparently, the drone had GPS and could operate independently... And, since cigarettes are much cheaper in Russia than Lithuania it was smuggling from Russia into Lithuania...

In the US, do you have to pay taxes on cigarettes purchased on Indian Reservations? Just wondering...

Uno

 

[werepossum]

Ars had a photo. More photos here.

Apparently, the drone had GPS and could operate independently... And, since cigarettes are much cheaper in Russia than Lithuania it was smuggling from Russia into Lithuania...

In the US, do you have to pay taxes on cigarettes purchased on Indian Reservations? Just wondering...

Uno

Nope. I used to have a neighbor who would visit reservations just for that purpose.

 

[OutHouse]

It rose for an altitude of up to four meters and dropped it in a designated area.

errrrr what?

 

[Thebobo]

thats a toy airplane here is a real mans RC plane!

 

[unokitty]

Amazon Hiring Software Engineers For Its Drone Delivery Service

... the ideal candidate will “successfully manage complex, fast-moving, and unexpected communications challenges,” which, as Anders points out, sounds like code for “will have to explain what the heck we should do if one of these crashes.”

Wonder if they are recruiting in Lithuania?

Uno