View Full Version : Radio Controlled SAR
rotorcraig
26th Jul 2005, 19:59
From BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/4713839.stm)Model 'copter for rescue missions
A volunteer search and rescue team in Suffolk could soon be using a model helicopter to search for people.
The Felixstowe team is one of two in the country chosen to test the radio-controlled helicopter that has a thermal imaging camera on board.
It has been designed to work in weather conditions when a manned helicopter would have difficulty flying.
The aircraft will be used in searches for missing people at sea or on beaches along the East Anglian coast.
Only the Felixstowe and Kent volunteer search and rescue teams have been chosen to test the technology, developed in Colchester, Essex by the Emergency Corps research and development team.
The first craft, deployed with the Felixstowe team, will cover Suffolk, Norfolk and north Essex.
The helicopter based in Kent will cover south Essex, East Sussex and Surrey as well as Kent.
Now the Corps needs to raise £30,000 to set up the equipment.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40424000/jpg/_40424743_rescueheli203.jpg
The mini chopper can be used when manned aircraft cannot flyRC
diginagain
27th Jul 2005, 03:24
That captioned picture looks remakably like the real thing!
Spooky, but it should be reassuring for the poor unfortunates in distress - at least they'll know which way to wave for help, and as a bonus for the manufacturer, the aerodynamics should be well documented.
Dave_Jackson
27th Jul 2005, 04:49
diginagain,at least they'll know which way to wave for help Yes, but will the poor unfortunates in distress wave? They may think that the helicopter is 10 miles away.
:confused: A stupid question, but, what is the winch on the side of the R/C used for? :confused:
The real thing is radio controlled - the ARCCK tell us where to go on the radio and we go there:)
Bertie Thruster
27th Jul 2005, 07:32
"It has been designed to work in weather conditions when a manned helicopter would have difficulty flying."
So, for over water searches at least, its been designed not to be used at all!
aeromys
27th Jul 2005, 08:43
There's a picture of the real RC chopper on their site
EmergencyRescue.com (http://www.emergencyrescue.com/tasru.htm)
http://www.emergencyrescue.com/tasru/jokercam1a.jpg
Sailor Vee
27th Jul 2005, 11:04
I, for one, will not be losing any sleep over this possibly replacing the real thing.
Once they lose sight of it, how do they know it's orientation? Plus, if they can see it, then we would be airborne as well!!:confused:
Another half-arsed idea, if ever I saw one.:bored:
At least it won't sit around the crewroom eating its own weight in chocolate, watching MTV and farting all day:)
mallardpi
27th Jul 2005, 16:07
Perhaps i've missed the point here.
If there is somebody on the top of a cliff directing this RC by radio, then surely, the vis is good enough for a real helicopter. Otherwise the operator will lose sight of his RC probably for good a spark another SAROp ! for aditched heliocopter
Capn Notarious
27th Jul 2005, 19:06
Remote flying over parks, to catch them not cleaning up after dogs!
rotorcraig
27th Jul 2005, 23:39
£30,000 seems a bit steep; had a look on eBay this evening and think that we could knock one up using a few 99p items...
http://i10.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/4e/d2/96_1_b.JPG
http://i6.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/45/ab/9b_1_b.JPG
http://i10.ebayimg.com/04/i/04/8b/be/b3_1_b.JPG
RC :p
RobboRider
28th Jul 2005, 02:37
It has been designed to work in weather conditions when a manned helicopter would have difficulty flying.
My son has an RC helicopter of similar design to the one in the posting. It can't fly in a controlled fashion in winds any where near the winds that even a dear old R22 can fly in.
Try flying the RC in winds more than about 15 knots and it flies downwind only.
Any sort of gusts and its uncontrollable.
One assumes the Wx they have in mind is IFR stuff - so does their RC have auto-pilot/auto-hover/ autonomous navigation etc?
Doesn't look like it from the website.
"Another half-arsed idea, if ever I saw one."
I have to agree with that.
This one might do the search part, but the rescue may be limited to a squirrel or two...
http://www.nosc.mil/robots/images/mssmp.jpg
http://www.nosc.mil/robots/images/2mssmps.jpg
Rumor has it that it's dropping a 6-pack of beer on the roof.
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/robots/images/mout5.jpg
More can be seen here (http://www.nosc.mil/robots/air/amgsss/mssmp.html) including some video.
-- IFMU
Sailor Vee
28th Jul 2005, 15:35
At least it won't sit around the crewroom eating its own weight in chocolate, watching MTV and farting all day
I OBJECT TO THAT!!!
I do not watch MTV :suspect: