Australian Lifeguards Are Getting a $200,000 Drone to Spot Sharks

Drones are slowly but sure becoming part of the equation for hand brake services for jobs like search - and - rescue oravalanche prevention . Australia ’s taking things a step further , thanks to the debut of a foresightful - ambit helicopter drone to help with a very Australian job .

Little Ripperis a modify version of a military drone , and has the kinds of specs you ’d therefore expect : flying time of two and a one-half hours , range of 60 mi , and a range of daylight and infrared tv camera . The design is to utilise a fleet of Little Rippers to patrol the beach and coast of New South Wales , relying on human hustler and pattern - recognition algorithmic rule to detect shark attacks . The drone pipe are n’t there just to observe , either — they can carry payloads such as liferafts , defibrillators , or position beacon .

The overall mission is interesting on its own — New South Wales saw 14 shark attacks in 2015 — but it ’s also a watershed moment for drone operations . Current commercial-grade uses of drones are trammel to within visual escape range , a statute mile or two at best . Little Ripper will be control in air space shared with manned aircraft , and the success or failure will coiffe the stage for future deliverance missions — and yes , Amazon ’s foresighted - term plan tobring you a yoke of shoes with a trailer .

William Duplessie