DARPA's 1.8 Gigapixel ARGUS Camera Recorded 1M TB Daily in 2013
aakashgupta · x · 2026-09-02
A look back at the ARGUS-IS surveillance system revealed by DARPA in 2013. Built from 368 smartphone camera sensors, it achieved 1.8 gigapixels resolution, covering 15 square miles from 17,500 feet and resolving 6-inch objects.
Key technical details:
- Massive Storage: Recorded continuously, generating approx. 1 million TB of data per day
- Instant Rewind: Turned surveillance into a "rewind button" without needing to pre-select targets
- Deployment Controversy: The aircraft was banned by a court, but the technology returned with a scale expanded to 120,000 sensors
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