RC aircraft for SAR -- closer than we think?

Started by RiverAux, February 26, 2010, 03:55:23 AM

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RiverAux

I've been confident of the fact that CAP will get pushed out of the post-disaster aerial imagery field within a fairly short period of time by drone aircraft operated by the National Guard.  Their capabilities just so far outstrip anything we can do, there is just no comparison.  The only thing that has kept it from happening is that most of them are overseas looking for bad guys at the moment.

I had thought that our place in airborne SAR was a little more secure, at least in areas that aren't covered up by city and county-owned helicopters looking for something to do (sorry flyingpig). 

But, I think we are on the verge of getting edged out of that field.  See this story: http://www.10news.com/news/22676691/detail.html

Equusearch, which originally was a non-profit horse-mounted SAR organization has expanded into doing SAR by boat, manned aircraft, and drone aircraft.  With 1700 members they are rapidly moving in on CAP's lead as the largest single SAR organization in the country and seem to be moving beyond our technical capabilities as well. 

They seem to be outsourcing their drone work to RP Flight Systems: http://www.rpflightsystems.com/MainPage.html with RC-like aircraft with real time video that apparently can be downloaded and used almost immediately without having to be processed like Predator product.   Even have some autopilot capability.  Here is a news story on it which shows their video.   http://www.fdnntv.com/default.asp_Q_videoID_E_9483_A_title_E_SDSU_Firefighting_Drone
It does appear that though not required by FAA, they are only having the aircraft operated by PPL holders. 

Now, these little things are going to work great for missing person SAR in relatively confined areas but don't have the range to really work for the sort of large scale missing airplanes searches we do.  So, while we don't get called to fly on a lot of lost person searches, competing against this sort of technology won't help.

The obvious question is why we can't get real time video on our big honking planes when it is on these little things? 

I've got to say that I'm a lot more interested in this being a potential field for CAP to get into than I have in the past.  Think about giving every CAP squadron the capability to have this level of air support?  This would blow officials away much more than saying, "yeah we can fly over and take some shaky off-kilter digital photos for you....



MikeD

The big issue right now is legal (see the last thread here I started....), but the technology is there.  I don't have a good reason why we can't downlink video in real time from a crewed aircraft, other then money, at least for a given range (10-30ish miles), unless your ground station has a decent sized tracking dish.  That range is effectively infinite*  with SATCOM, which currently needs a dish for any production system, but we've done it with phased array before at work. 

*Not a true statement for flights at or greater then the Arctic or Anarctic circles. 

ZigZag911

Also the fact that someone has to pay NG personnel...

heliodoc

Not only pay

BUT A coherent, standardized UAV training environment with both US Army personnel and civilian contractors that make CAP curriculum pretty lame at times...So yeah PAY and real hand on training with REAL up to date equipment that has REAL support behind it   I could see someone else getting the missions

Technology + a SERIOUS training environment with the tools...

CAP gets tools alright........but usually a hodge podge of training and varied by Wings......and sometimes run by tools themselves

Tools known as Good ol Boys (GOB network)

RiverAux

Incidentally, according to a briefing at NB today, CAP is going to be starting a RC aircraft program, however it will be under AE like rocketry rather than anything "operational" in nature. 

NC Hokie

Quote from: RiverAux on February 26, 2010, 11:49:22 PM
Incidentally, according to a briefing at NB today, CAP is going to be starting a RC aircraft program, however it will be under AE like rocketry rather than anything "operational" in nature.
Really? I hope that it is supported better than the rocketry program is, as R/C is a much more expensive hobby.
NC Hokie, Lt Col, CAP

Graduated Squadron Commander
All Around Good Guy

RADIOMAN015

Quote from: NC Hokie on February 26, 2010, 11:52:34 PM
Quote from: RiverAux on February 26, 2010, 11:49:22 PM
Incidentally, according to a briefing at NB today, CAP is going to be starting a RC aircraft program, however it will be under AE like rocketry rather than anything "operational" in nature.
Really? I hope that it is supported better than the rocketry program is, as R/C is a much more expensive hobby.
Actual some squadrons I'm aware of have teamed up with local RC clubs who come in and make presentations to the cadets to get their interest up in this.  I think adding a camera with a downlink even for short field take off and flying "in the pattern" would be beneficial to cadets as well as seniors members.
I understand this year at the MA Wing Conference there's one seminar period that will focus on Robotics in ES, so perhaps some of the wing members have been doing some experiments.
RM     

heliodoc

^^
Well River

When is CAP get the kajones to go operational??

San Diego State and and Equusearch??  Surely CAP has enough dough to do this and compete don't they?  After all, CAP has been a aerospace education leader for at least 50 of the 68 years.

Like NC Hokie says.... more expensive....but ALOT cheaper than CAP aircrew >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D

Think of the savings CAP could enjoy competing with all these factions of SAR

Nothing like a little competition to see who the best of the best are...

Probably be a hard pill for CAP to swallow...sort of like the USAF pilot issues with UAV's

I say CAP would be good in the aerospace ed world .....and....... RC .........should not take that long in becoming operational....but that would depend on a 646 page CAP regulation and approximately 15 CAP BoG / NEC Board meetings to approve it!!

davidsinn

Quote from: heliodoc on February 27, 2010, 12:01:19 AM
^^
Well River

When is CAP get the kajones to go operational??


What's stopping you from doing it?
Former CAP Captain
David Sinn