1998 Photo Contest, Science & Technology, 1st prize
Photographer

George Steinmetz

National Geographic

01 January, 1997

A robotic helicopter called Cypher shows off its surveillance technique in a mock town. Guided by a mouse on a computer screen, it can locate and track people and carry a 50-pound load for up to 48km. Cypher was designed to assist ground troops on dangerous missions. Visualizing the evolution of robotics, this story was shot in locations across the US and in Osaka, Japan.

About the photographer

George Steinmetz

His expeditions to the Sahara and Gobi deserts have been featured in separate National Geographic Explorer programs. He specializes in aerial photography and pioneered the use of...

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