Coastguard Sumner volunteer Daniel Manchester has returned from an inspiring trip to California at an international drone technology conference. Daniel and his employer Proform Group were honoured as one of three international finalists for DroneDeploy’s prestigious Guardians of Safety Award.
Although not the category winner, Daniel received special recognition from DroneDeploy’s Not‑for‑Profit division for his pioneering use of 3D modelling in search and rescue (SAR) operations and for developing what may be a first-of-its-kind Drone SAR Training Simulator.
Coastguard Sumner’s drone programme, now in its second year, is attracting international attention. Linna Selbrede, keynote speaker and Gulf Coast Division Leader of TEXSAR (Texas Search and Rescue) trialled Daniel’s drone SAR training simulator and offered highly positive feedback, expressing interest in exploring its use within TEXSAR’s own operations – a promising step toward deeper collaboration.
Coastguard have published a more detailed article on their web site – read more.
