A Canberra team has won $10,000 for developing an un-manned aerial vehicle (UAV) which could help rescue stranded bushwalkers. Team Leader Stephen Dade and his team ‘Canberra UAV’ claimed first prize at the Outback Rescue Challenge after their UAV successfully located a dummy bushwalker.
The team of 10 amateurs worked for 18 months developing and building their unmanned aircraft, designed to send details of missing bushwalkers to a rescue crew. The prize winning UAV weighs 16 kilograms (35 lbs) and has a wingspan of 2.5 meter (8.2 ft). The UAV is powered by a small gasoline engine similar to those found in one-third to quarter scale model aircraft.
The three day “Outback Challenge” was held in the bushland around Kingaroy in Queensland Australia.
Click the link below to read the complete article by Elise Pianegonda in ABC News (AU)…
Canberra rescue drone wins $10,000 prize
Rich Hanson
AMA Government and Regulatory Affairs