Drones may soon assist with tornado research and rescue (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Deadly tornadoes have already claimed the lives of dozens of people in the US this year, and what experts call "tornado season" is just beginning.

Scientists in Oklahoma are working on implementing new technologies to study tornadoes, and to assist in search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of a tornado hit.

The BBC's Franz Strasser went to Stillwater and Norman, the campuses of the two largest state universities in Oklahoma to see how drones and supercomputers are beginning to make a difference.
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video at: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27194165




This seemed timely ... we've had three tornado warnings so far today ...

[Warpy]

1. There was aerial footage from a drone here last night

and it was vastly superior to anything a helicopter could have done, flying closer to the scene and hovering for longer periods without bugging the rescuers with prop wash stirring up dust and fine debris.

We've seen the worst that drones do. Now we'll discover the best. Eventually we'll be able to climb Everest on treadmills at the gym...