Know any real-life inspirational stories involving UAVs?

[mikebaker]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of any good inspirational stories centered around UAVs?

Things like "A UAV saved my life" or "A UAV helped my friends get out of trouble". You know, a bit of a "Chicken Soup for the UAV enthusiast's soul".

I'm putting together a presentation for University students that are already engaged in the UAV community. I'd like to give them a glimpse of how their efforts are affecting the world and the people in it. I want to go beyond the newspaper headlines and marketing and tell the real stories. Real situations, real people (names can be changed for confidentially, of course).

My day job is writing software for UAVs (Warrior, Shadow 200, Hunter, Aerosonde) but this is pretty far removed from anyone that actually uses UAVs. Beyond my presentation for these students, I'm really interested to see how my own efforts are affecting people in the world.

If anyone can help me out by providing stories or sending me links (to posted stories or other forums), I am truly grateful.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

[jetstreaming]

I have no personal stories of UAV craft in rescue operations. Alot here develop them AS a hobby, or for productive uses such as crop monitoring/surveying purposes.

However, this might be a useful reference, the first known use of small UAVs for an actual disaster, was in 2005 during the Katrina Rescue operation.

One fixed wing and one T-Rex electric helicopter, fitted with video and thermal imagery from 100 to 1000 feet. The full article is here:

http://www.uavm.com/images/USF_Deploys_Unmanned_Aerial_Vehicles_To_Katrina_Re scue_Operation.pdf

However, elaborating on your original Post, wouldn't sea rescue be a perfect application for UAVs? They could fly for hours scanning open waters and remote coastline, again using thermal imaging, to help detect heat sources following marine accidents.

Positive identifications could then be reported directly back to the sea rescue teams in their sea-king helicopters, who could then fly directly to the scene/gps co-ordinates logged. :) ..I'm sure in the similar fashion to how they were used in Katrina.

Would save them the time and people/helicopter resources hovering around over water for hours on end trying to spot dots (people) floating around in the water - like you see them do in the rescue fly-on-the-wall documentarys.

[CenTexFlyer]

We're pretty sure we have the first nationally televised civilian use of a UA in a SAR effort back in 2005. It was on the Tara Grinstead case in Ocilla, Georgia covered by CourtTV. I understand that website has morphed several times but there used to be a video up there of us flying our routes doing imaging.

Gene

[Myron]

OOPS,, I just posted a new thread "Good Use of your UA" before I read this thread. I did post a pic of the front page of the paper on the deal though.. I also have a 66 meg interview with MSNBC that we did, but I have no idea how to shrink it and get it on Youtube..

Myron

[Jack Crossfire]

An Insitu ScanEagle drone aided the rescue of Richard Phillips from pirates by providing constant surveillance of the pirate ship. Not Canadian, unfortunately.

http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=847502315

& here's the photo

http://d.yimg.com/ca.yimg.com/p/090413/reuters/btre53c188500btre53c188500i39638100.jpg

[Mick Molloy]

I remember stories of Iraq soldiers surrendering to uavs because they know that once spotted by the uav it wasn't long before something else would come flying in..

[jetstreaming]

I remember stories of Iraq soldiers surrendering to uavs because they know that once spotted by the uav it wasn't long before something else would come flying in..

I also heard this too. However it's surprising as you'd have thought the UAV's would be flying that high that they wouldnt be spotted on the ground? Also I doubt the Iraqi's are running round at night with binoculars!?

Unless the UAV's do drop their altitude prior to dropping a missile of some kind, therefore at this point the teleban know the game is over!

Or perhaps its a psycological game - used to trick the Teleban into surrendering at the thought of being blown into 100 pieces and a video of their last moments ending up on YouTube! :D

[drex]

pffbbttt bino's at night? youd need NVG's or IR's or thermals...

the taliban they just run and hide in the mountainside from what ive been reading... i havent been to afganny land but ive been to iraq twice.

[Mick Molloy]

I also heard this too. However it's surprising as you'd have thought the UAV's would be flying that high that they wouldnt be spotted on the ground? Also I doubt the Iraqi's are running round at night with binoculars!?

Unless the UAV's do drop their altitude prior to dropping a missile of some kind, therefore at this point the teleban know the game is over!

Or perhaps its a psycological game - used to trick the Teleban into surrendering at the thought of being blown into 100 pieces and a video of their last moments ending up on YouTube! :D
This back in the first gulf war the Pioneers would fly low and spot for Naval gunfire, once the UAV spotted a target the BIG ships would send in broadside and witht the UAV correcting the fire...