Mike Baird, the Premier of New South Wales State in Australia, has just announced that the state is to trial a state-of-the-art shark spotting drone costing some AU$250,000 (US$179,000). He went on to predict that drone technology would be "the future of rescue" and that every surf club in the state would eventually have access to it.
Nicknamed the "Little Ripper," the shark spotter drone is a modified version of the Vapor 55 military grade drone manufactured in the USA. According to the Daily Telegraph it "...can fly up to 100 kilometres and stay airborne for about 150 minutes, flying above beaches and the ocean to spot sharks."
It will be fitted with the latest camera technology, so that very HD live video footage will be streamed back to central control (2 operators) where the feed will be combined with pattern-recognition software - meantime being developed by the University of Technology Sydney - so that shark species and positions can be identified immediately and the data relayed to emergency services, beach lifeguards, and water users. Infra-red technology will make it effective at night.
Nicknamed the "Little Ripper," the shark spotter drone is a modified version of the Vapor 55 military grade drone manufactured in the USA. According to the Daily Telegraph it "...can fly up to 100 kilometres and stay airborne for about 150 minutes, flying above beaches and the ocean to spot sharks."
It will be fitted with the latest camera technology, so that very HD live video footage will be streamed back to central control (2 operators) where the feed will be combined with pattern-recognition software - meantime being developed by the University of Technology Sydney - so that shark species and positions can be identified immediately and the data relayed to emergency services, beach lifeguards, and water users. Infra-red technology will make it effective at night.
But the drone isn't being used just for spotting sharks; it's being developed as a rescue craft too. It will carry a remotely controlled detachable rescue pack containing items such as liferafts, positioning beacons, defibrillators and other lifesaving equipment.
It's expected that around 40 "Little Rippers" will be distributed to surf lifesaving clubs around Australia as early as next year if the trials are successful.
It's expected that around 40 "Little Rippers" will be distributed to surf lifesaving clubs around Australia as early as next year if the trials are successful.