New B.C.-made drone to be tested with search and rescue crews

B.C.'s rugged and remote terrain can oftenbe challenging for search and rescue teams.

But a new drone fashioned by a North Vancouver engineer might be just the solution to help mitigate the risks oflooking for people lost in the backcountry.

• Intense video shows just how challenging a mountain rescue can be

StefanWeissenberg has been testing a one-kilogram dronehe says is portable, waterproof, loaded with an infrared cameraand can handle rough conditions.

Hestarted on theproject when he graduated as an aeronautical engineer from the University of Sydney in Australia in 2013.

Weissenberg is a big fan of the outdoors and isan avid backcountry skier and rafter; he also volunteers with the Mount Seymour ski patrol. That's what inspired him to create a drone for search and rescue crews.

"It's a tool for looking in areas that you might not be able to reach easily," he said.

Right now, a rescuer might have to descend down into a ravine or gullyor kayak up a river to find people.

"It's very time consuming for the rescuers, because even if they don't know that someone is down there they still need to check," Weissenberg says."It's dangerous work as well."

The drone should be able to save time and reduce the risk, he said.He's done demonstrations for several searchandrescue groups and BC Hydro.

And next month, he sayshis drone will be tested byKasloSAR and North Shore Rescue. He's hoping the feedback will help him improve the design.

It won't replace a rescuer, butWeissenberg says it will be one more tool in the arsenal.

"It's enough to see if someone is down there or it warrants further investigation," he said.