A very sad story,
http://www.suasnews.com/2012/04/14210/uas-operator-finds-body-of-missing-texas-boy/
Well done to Gene Robinson (a member here) and the team from RP Search Services. A heartbreaking task.
The body of 2-year old Devon Davis was found, ending several days of an intensive search.
The boy's body was found shortly after the search was officially called off in a lake near his home. A DPS helicopter was checking a lake less than a mile from his home one last time when searchers spotted something.
"We have located Devon Davis in a large body of water nearby his home," Capt. Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office said. "Devon is deceased."
Earlier in the day, a remote control airplane with photography capabilities flew over the lake and spotted something. The DPS helicopter was checking that out when searchers found Devin's remains. After that, Texas Equusearch founder Tim Miller walked Devon's mother, April Davis, to the back of the yard where Capt. Evans told her that Devon was gone.
Comments
It's better than that there is a book coming soon, look out for its launch on sUAS News
Great work Gene. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the boy's family, and it's good that you were able to help bring closure to them. Do you think you could do a writeup on the work you're doing?
Sad story. We had a boy who froze to death venturing out on sea ice, in Newfoundland recently. The SAR was not able to send planes out in time. Now we are learning that all their planes were out of commission at the time. If they would have had access to unmanned drones, like what we fly, I bet the boy would have had a fighting chance. A boy's like for the want of a cheap $1000 drone and the proper regulations in place to use them.
Excellent work Gene!
That's a sad story. I worry about that sort of thing as my 2.5 y.o. daughter is perfectly capable of unlocking the doors, and independent enough to want to do so.
I'm curious how this RPSearch company operates in the US, since it's not a hobby use, so...
Fantastic! I sincerely believe that the time spent asking permission to fly such a mission is well worth it. I mean, what's the life of a child in comparison to the one-in-a-million chance that a small UAS might crash into me or my property?
I believe Gene has a COA and I know he speaks to be people right at the top about his operations.
Well done, guys. This non-profit and this article are the things that should be brought out into discussion when regulators decide they wish to destroy this industry and/or hobby.