A miniature surveillance balloon system is described that can be used in
military and public safety situations for real-time observations. They
are as small as feasibly possible, low-cost and expendable, and typically
are deployed in clusters. Balloons may act individually or alternately
clusters may act robotically (in unison) without command input at times.
Video surveillance information is preprocessed and then sent via wireless
communications links. Batteries and/or gas cylinders may be selectively
jettisoned to facilitate vertical movement. Balloons may optionally have
thruster mechanisms to facilitate lateral movement which may in some
embodiments be powered by a source of combustible gas which is also used
for providing lift.