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from the swim-across-the-riptide,-not-up-it dept.
A dramatic rescue at Lennox Head on the state's Far North Coast has made world history after new drone technology was used to save two swimmers struggling in heavy surf.
As lifeguards were training to familiarise themselves with the drone equipment as part of the NSW government's $16 million shark mitigation strategy on Thursday, a call came through of two distressed swimmers.
Lifeguard supervisor Jai Sheridan, the 2017 NSW Lifeguard of the Year, was piloting the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the time, immediately responded and was able to locate the swimmers within minutes of the initial alert.
"The Little Ripper UAV certainly proved itself today, it is an amazingly efficient piece of lifesaving equipment and a delight to fly," Mr Sheridan said.
"I was able to launch it, fly it to the location, and drop the pod all in about one to two minutes. On a normal day that would have taken our lifeguards a few minutes longer to reach the members of the public."
Also at: engadget
(Score: 2) by looorg on Monday January 22 2018, @05:38PM (5 children)
"The Little Ripper", worst name ever for something involved in a Shark mitigation strategy? It's not a name that fills one with confidence.
So how large is the drone? I guess one raft could be made fairly compact if it just has to house or support a couple of people. It doesn't seem like its an actual emergency life raft with the usual high edges or a roof (that can seriously suck getting into if the waves are just high enough), but more of just a floatation device.
So they are replacing lifeguards with Drones then since nobody seems to have gone out to meet them except to stand at the beach (to recover their flotation device?)? What if the people are not able to get into or onto the raft, they kind of have to launch both human and drones and not just stand around and see if the first one works.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 22 2018, @06:18PM
More tied to modern slang: https://www.surfer.com/blogs/surfer-approved/ripping-in-your-60s/ [surfer.com]
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday January 22 2018, @06:29PM
If I hear that a drone named something like Reaper is coming to "drop a pod" on me, I'm holding my breath under the waves for as long as I can...
(Score: 4, Informative) by PartTimeZombie on Monday January 22 2018, @08:42PM
In Australasian slang anything that is "a little ripper" is really good, as in "get me another frothy mate? Beauty. You little ripper".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 22 2018, @10:48PM
That is an odd name. I'd have called them Chazwazzas.
(Score: 2) by bart9h on Tuesday January 23 2018, @01:08AM
Nobody is being replaced. The drone is just a tool for the lifeguards. The lifeguard was still there, and would have gone there if it was needed. The drone saved them, yes, but if the drone was not there, the lifeguard would have done it by himself anyway. The drone just made it easier.