According to National Geographic statistics, avalanches claim the lives of more than 150 people every year, the majority of whom are skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers hitting the slopes.
The BBC reports that drone manufacturers believe their unmanned aerial vehicles could help locate victims faster, and enable ski patrollers to remotely detonate explosives to clear snow on high-risk slopes as a preventative tactic.
By using drones to dramatically cut down search times, rescuers have the opportunity to reach victims buried under avalanches before it is too late. The outlet explains that more than 90% of people buried by avalanches survive if dug out within 15 minutes. At the 45-minute mark, the survival odds plummet to about 20% …
https://builtin.com/robotics/drones-locate-avalanche-victims-faster
Built In | March 10, 2019
