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APRIL FESTIVAL
WINTER Forecast
ATTRACTS RECRUITS
MARCH 17—18 Showers, colder
MARCH 19—24 Sunny, cool
MARCH 25—31
Rainy periods, turning mild
APRIL 1—11 Showers, cool
APRIL 12
Few showers, seasonable
Volume 15 Issue 3 >> MARCH 17 — APRIL 12
@sunpeaksnews /sunpeaksnews
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FIRST PROVINCIAL drone search Seven people rescued with help of Kamloops tech company TAKES PLACE
“It was pretty exhilarating. We were incredibly grateful and it’s definitely something we will remember for the rest of our lives.”
Robert Atwood and Richard Sullivan with one of their drones. | PHOTO SUPPLIED
by JEAN STRONG
W
hen Robert Atwood answered his phone on the evening of Feb. 20 he didn’t expect to spend the night in the woods near Sun Peaks. But on the other end was Alan Hobler, president of Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR). A group of skiers was lost after leaving the ski boundary at Sun Peaks Resort and they needed Atwood’s help to find them. It wasn’t the first time he had been called to a search.
Atwood, CEO and co-founder of Hummingbird Drones in Kamloops, has been training alongside KSAR since 2015. But past searches turned out to be false alarms or the subjects were found before the drones were deployed. Atwood had no idea this would be the first successful drone search and rescue in the province. “We were pretty surprised, but there was no question if we were going to go or not.” Atwood was in Revelstoke for a conference but loaded into a car with co-founder
Richard Sullivan and drove the three hours to Sun Peaks where they met with 18 KSAR members ready to find the seven subjects lost somewhere in the forest between Sun Peaks and Whitecroft, known as the Henderson Creek drainage. The slope often lures unprepared skiers away from the resort, while they believe they are headed to the bottom of the mountain. The search went into the early hours of the next morning as Atwood and Sullivan guided the infrared drones above terrain that is challenging to navi-
gate on foot. “We have a live view from the drone and KSAR directs us where to fly,” Atwood said. “KSAR personnel will instruct us if we see something hot and decide if we want to investigate further or continue.” Three subjects were found around 10 p.m. and contact was made with the other four after midnight. They were all escorted off the mountain by KSAR members. “It was pretty exhilarating,” Atwood said. “We were incredibly grateful and it’s definitely something we will remember
for the rest of our lives.” Hummingbird adapted the infrared technology they use to find hot spots in wildfires to be used for Search and Rescue. The difference is the operator and guide look for heat and movement to identify those who are lost. While the technology worked well, it has room to improve. Atwood said he would like to add a way to communicate with subjects and better identify searchers. Overall the team said the
Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12
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