And then what? Hover over me as I'm dying?

tux1968 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Yes. If you called from your cell phone while on foot or in your car, the drone can find your exact location and hover over you until help arrives, quicker than if EMS has to search you out themselves.

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FireBeyond 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

How so? I ask as a paramedic of 14 years, now retired.

If EMS has to "search you out" so does the drone.

At least in my County, we actually get very good triangulation info from 911. It was very rare that Dispatch told us they only had Level 2(IIRC) location info (which might be to several hundred feet).

FAR more common was people who actually told us the -wrong- location. Car accidents that were several miles up the road from their location. Saying Blah St SE when they meant Blah Rd NE, etc.

Drones don't solve for that problem. They're going to the wrong location, too.

	▲	tux1968 an hour ago \| parent [-]
		> If EMS has to "search you out" so does the drone. The point is that the drone is fast enough to arrive first, and do the searching so that you don't have to. It's just one of many possible scenarios. I totally understand the argument that this might not be the most effective use of money, but I honestly don't understand the lack of appreciation for the number of places this could be used effectively.

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zoklet-enjoyer 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Ok. I live in a small, flat city with few trees. So why did my police department buy these?

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tux1968 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Obviously I don't know the specifics of your city, but in general there are a lot of scenarios where it's valuable to get to a scene very quickly (no traffic, etc.) and obtain reconnaissance. Especially violent scenes, or it could even be a drunk driver who is still on the move, or a stolen car where the perpetrators are likely to flee on foot if stopped.

I'm sure you can come up with a lot more ideas using your imagination.

	▲	tadfisher an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Thanks for the explanation. I will ask my local city council to spend the money elsewhere.
	▲	zoklet-enjoyer 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Sounds like a scam

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scottyah 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Can they drive straight to you at 60mph without stopping?

	▲	chaps 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Got it, a surveillance missile.