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April 19, 2011 By Brian Heaton
A robot used to covertly transmit live video during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for use by local and state firefighters and police, ending a legal battle between amateur radio operators and law enforcement over the device.
Called the Recon Scout Throwbot, the robot transmits over the 430-448 MHz portion of the 420-450 MHz frequency band, which is primarily used by the federal radiolocation service. The spectrum is also utilized by amateur radio enthusiasts. The latter group, spearheaded by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), opposed a waiver request filed with the FCC by Recon Scout maker ReconRobotics Inc. to use the band.
The ARRL argued that ReconRobotics’ claims that the device would be useful in public safety and anti-terrorism operations didn’t prove that a waiver to use the frequency bands was in the public interest. The FCC admitted, in its order approving the waiver, that while some interference in the frequency bands may occur, it isn’t a reason to prohibit the use of the Recon Scout.
The FCC approval does come with some limitations, however. The robot can only be used by state and local police and firefighters on the specific band. Operators must also first use the Recon Scout on 436-442 MHz bands. If those frequencies are inaccessible, then the 430-436 MHz and 442-448 MHz bands — where interference is more likely — can be accessed.
In a subsequent Order on Reconsideration released April 15, the FCC granted the ARRL’s request for changes in the labeling and instruction manual requirements to ensure that users of the Recon Scout are aware of the interference limitations.
Use of the device is also limited to emergencies involving threats to the safety of life and training purposes. In addition, the Recon Scout is restricted from use near various radar installations and Air Force bases, and the amount of units that can be sold is limited to 2,000 the first year and 8,000 the second year. After that period of time, future sales will be re-evaluated, according to the FCC.
Robot Could Save Lives
The Recon Scout measures eight inches long and weighs 1.2 pounds. Aimee Barmore, director of North American sales for ReconRobotics, said federal agencies that have been using the robot are looking at it as a life-saving tool, particularly during hostage situations.
“It really helps save [agencies] time and money because … it’s extremely durable,” she said. “You throw it up into a window and get eyes on the inside in a stealthy manner … without risking the lives of officers.”
Barmore added that while the Recon Scout is not individually customizable, a number of different versions of the robot exist. The price for each system ranges from $4,800 to $13,000 depending on the type.
Law enforcement agencies had been previously testing the Recon Scout in training missions. In one support letter to the FCC from the Mid-Missouri Multi Jurisdictional Drug Task Force in 2008, Special Agent Darin E. Logue talked about the device’s uncanny ability to go undetected during a drill.
Logue explained that the Recon Scout was deployed and did a thorough threat assessment for the entry team, all before entry, confirming the location and number of suspects, including identifying weaponry.
“Following a successful apprehension, ‘roll players/suspects’ advised that although they were expecting the deployment of the robot, they were never really aware of its location in the house,” Logue said.
A video describing the Recon Scout is available here.
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Please note that Amateur Radio operators make heavy use of the 70cm band. It is far more likely that this robot will GET interference from hams, than it will cause interference to ham radio people. The instructions and labeling will now clearly state that the recon robotics user must accept this interference problem.
We have the best FCC that money can buy!
It certainly is a concern that Recon Robotics would sell a device for a critical application that occupies spectrum that has other users including other government users (which could render the device unusable) and doesn't clearly point that out to buyers (I'm betting it's mighty small print....) I think I'd be pretty upset to spend $13,000 of my budget on one of these and not have it work perfectly every time.
It would not surprise me if some amateurs made a point of using those frequencies. Could they then be charged with interfering with officials. I know the guidance says they must accept such interference but...
Since there is no way for an amateur to know where and when a Recon Robotics Throwbot will be used and since the frequencies in question are part of regularly used amateur allocations it is hard to understand this comment. Perhaps the author assumes an unlicensed but permitted use of a frequency should supersede utilization of that spectrum by licensed users.
This is just a wedge probably intended to relieve amateurs of a bit more spectrum. The lame manufacturer reasoning of a need for sub 500 mHz operation doesn't really ring true. The present Public Service Band has many frequencies allocated around 460 mHz. In fact many of those freqs have been abandoned as the municipalities have bought into and switched over to the high dollar 800mHz digital trunking system . This has left a lot of empty freqs behind on the bands they already have.
Wait until the first Amateur get arrested and equipment seized. The police have a news conference saying they caught a Ham Radio Operator interfering with official communications. This is going to be a bad situation.
In the 1980s the UK authorities set up a series of "top secret" repeaters transmitting 24/7 between the UK 70cm repeater output channels. So secret, that continental operators were asking me about these transmissions and their purpose. Since these scout devices are operating in the 70cm band, what is to stop ATV enthusiasts receiving and decoding their transmissions? Or for that matter criminals and terrorists. As always, the military thinks it knows best.