SearchWing - Open Source Drones for Search and Rescue

Explore the development and deployment of open source drones for search and rescue operations in this 46-minute conference talk. Gain insights into SearchWing, a non-profit organization that builds drones to assist NGOs like Mission Lifeline and Sea-Eye in locating people in distress at sea, particularly along the southern European border. Learn about the challenges of creating waterproof drones and operating them reliably in maritime environments. Discover the organization's progress over the past six years, including updates on their missions with various NGOs. Examine the technical difficulties faced, such as exploded parts, burned electronic speed controllers, and crashed drones, through visual evidence. Understand the humanitarian context of SearchWing's work in addressing the ongoing crisis in the Mediterranean, while acknowledging the limitations of sea rescue as a solution to broader asylum rights issues.