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Drone Helps Find Sunken Boat In Ecuador

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4 October, 2024- IIn a recent operation, they used a drone. They equipped it with a Single-Beam Echo Sounder (SBES). The drone located a sunken boat. This incident took place in Ecuador’s isolated Laguna San Pablo. The mission showcased resourceful thinking. It showed how to overcome technological limitations. It also addressed environmental challenges.

Why We Started The Search

In July 2023, a boat capsized in Laguna San Pablo, one of Ecuador’s biggest and deepest lakes. The boat was carrying three people. The local search and rescue crew made great efforts but could not locate the wreck. The dive team then made an Aerial Development Services (ADS) assistance request.

ADS decided to use a dual-frequency echo sounder. SPH Engineering supplied this equipment. They mounted it on a drone. They made this decision after careful consideration. Other technology was an option. They considered using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) with Multi-Beam Echo Sounders (MBES). But getting them would take too much time. For underwater searches, BES is not usually the primary option. But it turned out to be an essential instrument for our quest. “It wasn’t an easy decision. The SBES is usually not the first choice for detailed search operations. Subsequently, the system developed into a crucial device. It demonstrated how having the most cutting-edge technology might not always trump creative ideas”. said ADS.

Facing And Overcoming Big Challenges

The operation ran into an array of difficulties:

  1. Laguna San Pablo is far from major cities. This makes transporting heavy equipment difficult.
  2. The boat was 450 meters from shore. This distance required a reliable solution for long-range detection.
  3. The lake sits 2,650 meters above sea level. At this altitude, thin air can affect drone performance.
  4. Unlike MBES, SBES provides less coverage per pass. Because of this, they need an exact survey grid to find the boat.
  5. These challenges pushed the team to adapt. They endeavored to optimize the capabilities of the available technology.

The Search Mission

ADS used a DJI RTK M350 drone. They integrated this drone with SPH Engineering’s echo sounder system. They also used UgCS flight planning software for support. They planned the mission and made calculations to ensure optimal survey coverage.

The drone flew over the lake. Its fastest speed was 0.7 meters per second. While flying, it towed the echo sounder across a distance of 450 meters. A footprint of 4.28 meters was found on the lakebed thanks to the sounder’s 7° beam width. The team adjusted the distance between survey lines to 5 meters. Their 90% search coverage was made possible by this modification.

ADS monitored real-time data from the echo sounder. This data revealed anomalies. These anomalies matched the dimensions of the boat. The search area’s southeast was where the abnormalities were located.

Achieved Success

Despite SBES’s limitations, the drone identified the sunken boat. This success showcased the importance of expert operation and strategic planning. It showed that you can achieve results even with less advanced technology. Processed data confirmed the wreck’s location. This provided the local rescue team with vital information. They used this information to proceed with the recovery effort.

Drone technology holds great promise, as demonstrated by the mission’s success. It also showcases the value of echo sounder technology. This is especially true in complex search operations. “This technology offers new solutions to complex tasks”, ADS concluded.

A precedent for employing drones in difficult situations is set by this case. It highlights how important flexibility is. It also emphasizes the need for original thought.
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