Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

20 minutes after launch, hobbyist’s drone finds man missing for 3 days
Electronic Products ^ | 07/25/2014 | Jeffrey Bausch

Posted on 07/31/2014 8:29:07 PM PDT by null and void

Model aircraft able to do what dogs, volunteers, and helicopters could not

After authorities spent three days searching for a missing, elderly man in Wisconsin, a hobbyist launched his personal drone in a volunteer search effort and was able to locate the lost individual 20 minutes post launch.

During the initial search phase, authorities used dogs, helicopters, and employed local volunteers to comb the Fitchburg countryside in search of Guillermo DeVenecia, an 82-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer’s. David Lesh, a drone enthusiast who uses his personal model aircraft to make videos for his skiing and snowboarding business, was in town visiting his girlfriends’ family when he learned of the community-wide search. He decided to join in and use his drone to look at areas the missing man may have wandered into.

20 minutes after takeoff, Lesh spotted DeVencia stumbling around in a bean field.

Fortunately, a medical check showed DeVencia was only mildly dehydrated, despite having been gone for some 72 hours. During the post-discovery interview, DeVencia stated that he thought he had only been out for a short walk.

This feel-good story comes at an interesting time for drone technology as a whole, as it was only just recently that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lost a court case brought by Texas-based firm EquuSearch, which had employed the use of small drones in its rescues missions (the company was barred by the FAA from the use of unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes in 2007).

Further driving the point home that drones could actually be useful and shouldn’t necessarily be limited under a blanket ban, in March 2014 a US court found that the FAA’s barring of the commercial use of drone was illegal because it had not done enough to solicit comment from the public.

While the FAA is appealing this decision, it has stated that representatives will take a closer look at rules governing drones, with the goal of having new laws in place by the end of 2015.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: drones; society
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last
Let no sparrow fall...
1 posted on 07/31/2014 8:29:07 PM PDT by null and void
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: null and void
Well, that settles it.

This single feel-good anecdote clears the way for TOTAL SURVEILLANCE of the peasantry, 24/7/365

We should arm the savior-drones, too.

The man in this story was in danger from bean caterpillars, or sech-like.

2 posted on 07/31/2014 8:32:48 PM PDT by kiryandil (making the jests that some FReepers aren't allowed to...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

If the cops can have ‘em, I want one. Or I get to shoot all the ones I see in the sky.


3 posted on 07/31/2014 8:38:49 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Patiently waiting for the jack booted kick at my door.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kiryandil

Hey, look on the bright side. When you slip in your shower, the thermal vision surveillance drones might notice and call an ambulance for you.


4 posted on 07/31/2014 8:44:31 PM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kiryandil

5 posted on 07/31/2014 8:45:11 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Delta 21
If the cops can have ‘em, I want one.

I take a 2nd amendment approach to this as well. Citizens need to be able to have them too. Current laws concerning privacy and harassment, etc, can still apply to these, but we should be able to develop businesses with them and just tinker.

6 posted on 07/31/2014 8:45:24 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: null and void

this genie is out of the bottle, they cannot ban or restrict drones when the price will soon be to the point where they are disposable. It will be as silly as trying to ban phone cameras.


7 posted on 07/31/2014 8:52:05 PM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vince Ferrer

The popos now find cameras to be weapons and want to control their use by “the public”.


8 posted on 07/31/2014 9:02:18 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: null and void

A good way for ranchers and farmers to search for lost livestock.


9 posted on 07/31/2014 9:07:01 PM PDT by Rebelbase
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

My husband has one. They take awesome pics of the landside. People really need to chill out about hobbyist enjoying them.


10 posted on 07/31/2014 9:40:15 PM PDT by ladyellen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

They will not ban them for hobby use but they will draw the line for commercial use and require some kind of licensing or regulations.

Otherwise, if you know the folks like I do, every damn one of them will trying to make money with their toys in order to pay for their hobby. The FAA controls the airspace over the US from ground level to ???? way up yonder and they are not about to let 50,000 drones wonder around with no control whatsoever. All it is going to take is for one of these idiots to have a fatal collision with an aircraft for their fun world to come to a screeching halt. It almost happened awhile back right over NYC when a couple a airliners nearly hit one with a reported 8’ wingspan.


11 posted on 07/31/2014 10:20:40 PM PDT by biff (WAS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

Marking to read tomorrow.


12 posted on 07/31/2014 10:33:24 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void
I want the right to control photography of my land equivalent to the rights I have to control images of my face.

IOW not without permission.

13 posted on 07/31/2014 10:35:54 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (Grovelnator Shwarzenkaiser: fasionable fascism one charade at a time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

> 20 minutes after takeoff, Lesh spotted DeVencia stumbling around in a bean field.

Naturally this puff piece didn’t cover the chemtrails that always accompany drone activity. /s


14 posted on 07/31/2014 11:05:41 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Carry_Okie

Google Earth, SPOT and the evening weather news must drive you crazy then.


15 posted on 08/01/2014 3:22:56 AM PDT by BwanaNdege ( "Our Emperor may have no clothes, but doesn't he have a wonderful tan" - MSM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: SunkenCiv; ALASKA; ActionNewsBill; A knight without armor; albertp; aragorn; areafiftyone; ...

“FYI”, to the ping list..


17 posted on 08/01/2014 3:40:51 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave (The democ"RAT"ic party preys on the ignorant..!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: null and void
First off, this is, in my mind, an acceptable use:
- It was not used in a populated area
- it was used ONLY for search and rescue
- it was NOT near controlled airspace
- and it was used wisely (No other UAS in the area to generate possible RF interference.

Where I have a HUGE problem is the knuckle draggers who think operating their UAS amongst buildings, in controlled airspace, amongst crowds or by following someone is OK.

Being an RC hobbyist for 30+ years, I see today's MORONS as a lethal threat with they way they arrogantly use UAS.

18 posted on 08/01/2014 5:07:43 AM PDT by Freeport (The proper application of high explosives will remove all obstacles.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Las Vegas Dave

Thanks for the ping


19 posted on 08/01/2014 5:16:39 AM PDT by GOPJ ( NBC - - "Nothing But Crap" network ... jerk smirk scum...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Delta 21

That’s what I want. I want to build a drone that’s a drone killer.

http://www.makershed.com/collections/drones-flight

I’m torn on what to do. Get a drone kit or get a lapidary saw or get a 3D printer.


20 posted on 08/01/2014 5:32:18 AM PDT by Usagi_yo (I don't have a soul, I'm a soul that has a body. -- Unknown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson