### UPDATE @ 8:52PM, 2/9: Kévin Bouchard, robotics coordinator for Fusion Jeunesse and computer science student at Université Laval, has pledged $20 for the Nemo Drone Prize! Thank you for your help, Mr. Bouchard.
Our new total: $380. ###
### UPDATE @ 8:10PM, 2/9: Michael Shimniok of BOT-THOUGHTS.COM has kicked in $20 for the Nemo Drone Prize!
Also, amending some previous updates, as Gary Mortimer of sUASNews.com announced he is in fact contributing $120, not the $60 as listed previously. Thank you Mr. Mortimer for your assistance.
Our revised total for the contest is now $360 - much, much better than the $60 I started with. Thank you to all the generous donors who believe drones can make the world a better place. ###
### UPDATE @ 4:03PM, 2/9: Gary Mortimer of SUASNEWS.COM is contributing an extra $60 to the Nemo Drone Prize!
That puts our new prize total at $280!
Thank you to all our sponsors for making this prize possible. If you'd like to contribute to the cause, email me at mschroyer@gmail.com
For those in the affected areas, please keep in mind that the contest will end at sunset on Monday. NOAA is indicating light winds for the northeast on Sunday, and it now appears that there will be some precipitation for Monday. If you want to try to win the prize, it looks like tomorrow might be your best and only option. ###
### UPDATE @ 2:08PM, 2/9: More great news -- Adam Sloan of BIRDSEYEVIEW is contributing $100 to the Nemo Prize! That brings the total cash reward for the challenge up to $220!
In addition, Mr. Sloan is announcing that his aerial photography company, BirdsEyeView, will be donating aerial robot services FREE OF CHARGE THROUGH MONDAY. If you could use the assistance of a flying robot during this 2013 Nor'easter, email him at relief@birdseyeviewuas.com. ###
### UPDATE @11:23AM, 2/9: Great news, everyone! Walter Volkman of MICRO AERIAL PROJECTS LLC is chipping in an additional $60 for the award. That means the total cash award for this challenge is $120!
I'd like to thank Mr. Volkman for his kind contribution to the cause. Micro Aerial Projects LLC provides aerial infrastructure and asset management, aerial mapping, post-disaster assessment, and drone journalism services (and more) courtesy of his Aibot X6 hexcopter.
Additionally, I'm now referring to this challenge as the NEMO DRONE PRIZE. It's like the X-Prize, but instead of sub-orbital spaceflight or oil cleanup, it's to put drones to use for helpful causes. ###
I'm announcing a contest: prove your drone can be useful during winter storm "Nemo," and I'll send you $60 $120 $220 $360 $380. Here's why:
"Above is a picture of a quadrotor drone, an airframe from a fixed-wing drone, and $60 $120 $220 $360 $380 cash. The money is yours if you make your drone useful during the aftermath of winter storm Nemo.
I know it's not a lot of money. It's all I can afford right now. But I'll mail it to you if you complete a task that demonstrates how useful drones can be in the event of a natural disaster.
Why? Because I believe that drones can be used for good. That's why I started DroneJournalism.org and co-founded Drones for Good.
The North East is having a weather crisis. Some call it "Nemo."
Governors in four states have ordered citizens not to use public roads. Airports are closing, and public transit is closing down in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Feet of snow are supposed to fall, making it difficult for emergency crews to respond to the disaster.
You know what could help during a time like this? A drone."
Rules and details about the contest are posted on my website.
Anyone in the northeast not doing anything for the next couple of days? Well, here's something to do.
Comments
@ Matthew I am not a Quad guy but I can appreciate what you have done Around here we take Snow Storms in stride. The infrastructure is in place to deal with it. It is where there is no infrastructure and the people are not use to what is happening around them it becomes a Disaster be it Snow Storm . Hurricane, Flood ,or whatever. At these times people come together and help each other out . I figure the Real winner of your prize will stumble in to the situation spur of the moment , Example: The guy with a Quad will come across First Res ponders at a road block of sorts and immediately know he can help.Get his Quad coordinate with the First Res ponders fly in and look around for them and help out where ever he can and expect no reward. If it is a real Disaster the bylaws might even get bent a little. I read the rules it does get Quad operators "Disaster Ready! '
Have a Great Day! Carl
Nevermind read the link http://www.mentalmunition.com/2013/02/ill-give-you-60-if-you-make-y...
So to followup did anyone get to use their drone during NEMO?
Down in my part of MD we had severe winds and that was it. Nothing notable
Man, if only I had known! I actually spent 6 hours clearing out the snow in our driveway and a couple of elderly neighbors and then the wind picked up. I still don't have mine completely together yet so I can't participate but I would have if I had mine done!
Great idea.
Thanks Gary good point. I was thinking when things were" marginal " Just between VFR and IFR and the heli boys were still digging out
@Carl If the traffic copter is on the ground so will sUAS. Has no one else thought of calling this finding Nemo.
Hi Peter - the quad pictured is actually a "Storm FF" from HeliPal.
Thanks for all your comments on this -- some great conversation here. Everything here points out some real advantages to drone-courier technology.
After the Storm a Quick recon would be good to see which rout to take especially when the traffic copter is still grounded . if you are use to winter driving it is not the tires it is the people that think it is still summer you have to worry about (tail gating cutting in and out of traffic when ther is nowhwere to go etc0
John, yep. I don't know about door to door personal mail delivery. But downtown couriers. Basically, replace the bike couriers with rooftop delivery. There's little doubt it would be by far the fastest way to deliver documents. I guess the only problem is security. If the craft went down for any reason (and it could be intentional interception) you've lost your documents.
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