They go where humans can't. Sometimes they go where no camera has gone before, but no matter where they go, they have the image documentation to prove they've been there.
We see the images on our televisions,
cctv monitors, and as of the last few years, even on our cell phones. A frequent hot topic of conversation between the masses, cameras (and the images they capture) are becoming a part of our day to day lives. Whether we realize it or not, whether we like it or not, this free flow of valuable information is here to stay in both the civilian and military sectors.
Web cameras ("webcams"),
traffic cameras ("trafficcams"),
surveillance cameras,
point of view (pov) cameras and more are what most civilians tend to come across in their daily lives. We know the cameras are there with the "optimistic understanding" that they are operational for either the sake of our security, the safety of our personal belongings and/or for our entertainment. As websites like
Youtube continue to flourish, so will the number of cameras being sold and the number of videos being created.
But what about cameras for military use? Cameras are used for a multitude of military applications including (but not limited to), reconnaissance, surveillance, vehicle inspection for hidden explosives, medical assistance on the battlefield, and other tasks. To protect the safety and those who serve, cameras have become the eyes and ears of military personnel in the midst of combat.
Cameras are integrated into autonomous intelligence systems, robotic vehicles (including unmanned ground, air, and sea vehicles), robotics and automation, weapons systems, intelligent control systems, intelligent transportation systems, intelligent manufacturing, and other advanced technology for a variety of purposes.
As technology advances, so does military intelligence analysis which means cameras are most definitely here to stay. Typically
military cameras are small in size and lightweight in order to work in space-restricted environments in addition to being packed full of features used to enhance the safety of those they photographically capture.