Techversation, LLC

Here’s a brief overview of the current project which Techversation is undertaking.

The Angel Eyes Project is about taking existing technology and using it in a way that no one has yet implemented. The project is more about innovation in this respect, than it is about invention, or coming from nothing. We are simply taking “stuff” that already exists, and essentially applying it in a novel approach to the problem of Search And Rescue (SAR) operations.

Anyone who has ever been involved in Search And Rescue knows that the more eyes that are on the target area, the more likely to find who you’re looking for, extract them, and “save the day”. Anyone who has ever watched an SAR operation from the sidelines of the evening news also knows that there is a lot of apprehension around finding lost souls as quickly as possible, while they are still alive and presumably, unharmed.

With the Angel Eyes project, Techversation is developing inexpensive drones equipped with cameras, GPS systems, cellular/satellite internet communications, and autonomous flight controls to put as many electronic “eyes” on a search area as possible.

With current computational power, it is also possible to create software algorithms that can scan incoming images for recognizable patterns associated with people in distress.  Once flagged, a human reviewer can confirm the findings, and easily redirect one of dozens of drones in the immediate area to loiter over points of interest.

The possibility exists for these images and video feeds to be distributed to a myriad of “users” throughout the internet to view and review anything that is incoming.  Essentially, it’s YouTube meets high tech search and rescue drones.  Imagine logging into the system through your web browser, and within moments being able to contribute to the quick finding and rescuing of a person or people who are lost, injured, or otherwise incapacitated in a remote area.   For authorized command and control users, they have access to a system through the internet to redirect drones through a simple web page.  This means access from laptops to PDA’s (personal digital assistants).  Imagine being at the front lines of an SAR operation being able to use your Treo or laptop to get live images via a cellular EV-DO or GSM/GPRS network?!  Incorporating moving map technology into current mapping systems online will also allow for command personnel to create GPS way-points by simply clicking to direct drones to desired locations or search patterns.

With modern technology, we find that literally hundreds of drones can be built and maintained for the same amount as the purchase price of an airplane or helicopter.  That’s not even getting into the operational and maintenance costs of aircraft – those expenses amount to hundreds of dollars per hour in many cases.  With the Angel Eyes system, parts are abundant due to the civilian Radio Control market, and easily replaced at costs unknown in the aviation industry.  Some would say “ridiculously inexpensive”, which could be quite accurate.  As a result, the law of large numbers can allow for a tremendous leverage, especially applied across a fleet of thousands of drones.

In the end, all the pieces of the puzzle are here, laying on the “table” before us.  Techversation is in the process of putting all the pieces together to create a cohesive and clear picture, enabling people to be more efficient and effective at an endeavor that has been physically demanding for all of human history.  It’s time to make it simple!