get closer to barricaded bad guys. this stuff is not being used to spy on people, it is being used to keep operators out of harm s way, keep first responders being placed in dangerous situations. reporter: private companies are using unmanned technology to map out property, inspect pipeline with multi rotor aircraft like this that take images with 50 times greater resolution than google earth. more environmentally friendly, they re quieter, if it crashes, it is no big deal. reporter: there are even robots that operate on the ground and all an officer has to do is throw it. this is throwable. why would you throw it? you could throw it through a screen, through a doorway, get quick reconnaissance. this gives you video, it gives you two way audio. reporter: underwater, new unmanned robot can read the vin number on a submerged car or find a missing person faster