Westpac Lifesaver Shark Watch Trials
Gavin Smith
Working trials began for the Little Ripper Lifesaver UAV in February 2016. Aero Motion Australia operated with this project since its inception in 2015 as the test pilot for the Pulse Aerospace Vapour 55 unmanned helicopter and.
The project has been successfully gaining momentum with the financial support from the NSW State Government and Westpac Bank.
Test flights conducted along the East Coast of New South Wales, Australia have been the proving ground for operations. Shark sightings and swimmers in distress are the main areas of concern for the lifeguards.
The helicopter is a first responder aircraft and fitted with a release mechanism to drop a flotation device, defibrillator, and electronic shark repellant.
It is equipped with FPV cameras, EO, IR and Thermal imaging cameras systems that enable the aircraft to be flown autonomously.
Successful missions have performed during the 2017/2018 summer along the North Coast of NSW and Sydney's Northern Beaches. Read more
