http://zero-signal.org/camera-car1.jp g
http://zero-signal.org/camera-car2.jp g

I passed this guy on the I-275 crossing over Tampa Bay today. Snapped a couple cell phone pics. It is not a government or city plate. I could see a laptop mounted on the center console for the driver. It is difficult to see in my cell phone pics but the devices are angled 45* forward, and appear to have an emitter/lens and some sort of receiver, almost like a laser/radar system. I suppose it could have been a camera system. From the point of view on Google's images it seems to be mounted high on a van or truck though.

What the fuck is this? Anyone know?

IIRC the Google cars are usually small trucks, I think Toyota Tacomas, and they've got pretty hefty camera arrays on the back of them.

I figured it would be something more advanced than what I saw. I still want to know what that dude was doing though.

Definitely not google.

Probably a hobbyist/artist doing a project.

Actually i have seen the google cars. The ones around here have a large Aluminum tripod strapped to the roof with a 360* view camera.

All the ones i have seen have google stickers right on the truck and bumpers.

I would not rule it out as a google car unless you work for google and happen to know it first hand.

We live in a contracting age where every company is contracting simple work to save the almighty penny. For all we know that is a guy subcontracted to to work for google and in that situation he would not advertise Google for obvious legal reasons.

No way that's Google. Doesn't fit their M.O.

found this while searching...




Hahahah!

Originally posted by CODE4
What the fuck is this? Anyone know?

A hobbyist or contractor doing some off the wall surveying. Google uses both marked and unmarked vehicles but their camera mounts are damn high.

Ive seen one in a reflection of a window from google earths street view. The one I saw was a ford box van and what looked like a recording studio strapped to the roof.