| A proposal has been put forth to build a | | | | multiple uses. |
| small floatable UAV Unmanned Aerical Vehicle | | | | |
| concept to save drowning victims. The FFD - | | | | A big version could be built for Navy Ship |
| Flying Flotation Device as we call it, would | | | | Rescue or downed pilot, or multiple victims |
| be flown out to those in need and they would | | | | in floods. A very small will be built for the |
| use it as a way to keep from drowning until | | | | beach rescue, which would be low-cost as to |
| rescue personnel could come and help them. | | | | not over burden city lifeguard budgets. |
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| So far we have put a model together puffy | | | | It would not be a bad idea for Navy Seal |
| design with model airplane engine to see how | | | | Extraction not a bad idea either, these |
| steer able it is, the aerodynamic issues | | | | things fly to the beach, the Navy Seal folds |
| appear to be the easiest part and not a | | | | the wings back and now it is a water |
| problem. All the other components are | | | | propulsion device? Many thoughts and endless |
| available, GPS, servos, chip, canister | | | | applications really, some might say even |
| inflation used on Navy Seal rafts once it | | | | another component in the net-centric |
| gets there. This will be a complete life | | | | battlespace. But the commercial applications |
| saver in military or civilian use. | | | | as well are completely endless. We have been |
| | | | getting some flack from the flotation |
| We have even gone so far as to design a | | | | industry, they do not like it, as they feel |
| pusher version, which can work in the water | | | | threatened? Not our problem, it is |
| and the victim can use it to get back to | | | | potentially a much better mousetrap. |
| shore, by holding a big red button. We will | | | | |
| need larger propeller but that is about it | | | | In the future we will no doubtedly see these |
| really. The victims could simply use it to go | | | | FFDs saving the lives of drowning victims, as |
| about 1/2 mile in the water before battery | | | | it is a killer application for small scale |
| was caput. Would like to base it on the | | | | lightweight, cheap to build and easy to fly |
| design of the Skylark UAV survelliance plane, | | | | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technologies. Think |
| but with folding wings and scalable, for | | | | on this. |