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Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

reuters.com

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Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#41

Post by Hokusai »

wavefunction wrote: post #36
jagger27 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This language reminds me of the infamous Thai cave rescue. Look how public opinion turned on Elon in that instance. There are a lot of differences here, of course.

Didn't public opinion swing against Elon Musk for trying to insert himself into an already on-going rescue and then called one of the men who did rescue the kids a 'pedo-guy'? That's something I'd expect from a 13 year old on xbox live.

That exactly. People were disgusted by the attention grab and the lack of respect for people risking their lives. 'I'm a billionaire, look at me!' syndrome.

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#42

Post by kodah »

323 wrote: post #23
vorpalhex wrote: post #3

Obviously a last ditch rescue attempt, which vindicates the untested methodology that we might otherwise be critical of. Also rather faith restoring that so many people are attempting to save these animals at cost to themselves.

> Also rather faith restoring that so many people are attempting to save these animals at cost to themselves. You're a bit naive. They will easily be able to raise $200k on a GoFundMe like thing. They will also gain massive social networks followings and be invited to leading podcasts and TV shows to talk about their heroism. All with minimal investment and zero personal and reputational risk, nobody will blame them…

This rhetoric reminds me of the cynicism that a lot of, especially, environmental activists have. There are a lot of ways to make change. If you can prove that a drone can carry a dog out of a very hazardous environment then it's useful as our environment gets universally more hazardous. You're also casting shade on raising money or publicity -- my question to you: what major problem can be solved without isolated public examples and money?

Last, I'm fairly certain calling folks naive is against the HN guidelines.

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#43

Post by dymk »

esel2k wrote: post #39

I think the 4minutes will be very hard. But since the limiting factor is the battery and the dog probably not cooperating, why not first fly a solar panel (to charge the drone) or an unpowered trap (to give enough time to catch the dog) to allow to rerisk the limitations…

Flying in a solar panel along with a system that can connect itself to the drone autonomously sounds very expensive (does such a system exist?). Or is the idea to put a solar panel on the drone, and then have it land and charge for a while?

Something like a big raccoon trap is probably a good idea - perhaps they’re running up against weight limits. Those traps are pretty heavy.

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#44

Post by jacquesm »

Hokusai wrote: post #41
wavefunction wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Didn't public opinion swing against Elon Musk for trying to insert himself into an already on-going rescue and then called one of the men who did rescue the kids a 'pedo-guy'? That's something I'd expect from a 13 year old on xbox live.

That exactly. People were disgusted by the attention grab and the lack of respect for people risking their lives. 'I'm a billionaire, look at me!' syndrome.

Are. Not were. The fact that we see this still being mentioned is a pretty good testimony to how utterly tone deaf Musk was when he did that.

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#45

Post by kadabra9 »

323 wrote: post #23
vorpalhex wrote: post #3

Obviously a last ditch rescue attempt, which vindicates the untested methodology that we might otherwise be critical of. Also rather faith restoring that so many people are attempting to save these animals at cost to themselves.

> Also rather faith restoring that so many people are attempting to save these animals at cost to themselves. You're a bit naive. They will easily be able to raise $200k on a GoFundMe like thing. They will also gain massive social networks followings and be invited to leading podcasts and TV shows to talk about their heroism. All with minimal investment and zero personal and reputational risk, nobody will blame them…

I bet you’re a lot of fun at parties.

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#46

Post by sushisource »

323 wrote: post #26
sushisource wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To contrast, I think maybe you're being a bit overly cynical. What evidence is there of that happening? Even if they did, is that such a bad thing? Can the guy not want to both save the dogs and make a cool video? They're not mutually exclusive.

I once read an article which was about how we are willing to spend thousands to save one particular dog, or one particular injured bird, instead of donating that money to "animal habitat preservation" or something similar which will save thousands of diverse animals. And then there's the whole industrial farm-animal raising thing, where billions of animals are systematically tortured. But nobody cares, because it's n…

People act irrationally when it comes to their feelings on preserving life. Human or animal.

I think it's pretty lame to say "Well, we shouldn't save one particular being because we're not maximally saving the most beings!".

Accept what we can get, and work with that. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#47

Post by tyingq »

dymk wrote: post #43
esel2k wrote: post #39

I think the 4minutes will be very hard. But since the limiting factor is the battery and the dog probably not cooperating, why not first fly a solar panel (to charge the drone) or an unpowered trap (to give enough time to catch the dog) to allow to rerisk the limitations…

Flying in a solar panel along with a system that can connect itself to the drone autonomously sounds very expensive (does such a system exist?). Or is the idea to put a solar panel on the drone, and then have it land and charge for a while? Something like a big raccoon trap is probably a good idea - perhaps they’re running up against weight limits. Those traps are pretty heavy.

A deep trash can with some meat glued to the bottom would probably work, with the drone tied to something near the open top. It would fall on its side when set down, and trap the dog when lifted. Assuming there's a way to lift it quickly enough.

I suppose dropping a trap, and coming back later is a better idea, but it would use a lot of the 20kg weight budget.

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#48

Post by thewakalix »

323 wrote: post #26
sushisource wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To contrast, I think maybe you're being a bit overly cynical. What evidence is there of that happening? Even if they did, is that such a bad thing? Can the guy not want to both save the dogs and make a cool video? They're not mutually exclusive.

I once read an article which was about how we are willing to spend thousands to save one particular dog, or one particular injured bird, instead of donating that money to "animal habitat preservation" or something similar which will save thousands of diverse animals. And then there's the whole industrial farm-animal raising thing, where billions of animals are systematically tortured. But nobody cares, because it's n…

Perhaps this is "scope insensitivity".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scope_neglect

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#49

Post by mike_d »

323 wrote: post #26
sushisource wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To contrast, I think maybe you're being a bit overly cynical. What evidence is there of that happening? Even if they did, is that such a bad thing? Can the guy not want to both save the dogs and make a cool video? They're not mutually exclusive.

I once read an article which was about how we are willing to spend thousands to save one particular dog, or one particular injured bird, instead of donating that money to "animal habitat preservation" or something similar which will save thousands of diverse animals. And then there's the whole industrial farm-animal raising thing, where billions of animals are systematically tortured. But nobody cares, because it's n…

> And then there's the whole industrial farm-animal raising thing

Huge difference between a pet that has developed human companionship bonds over thousands of years and a chicken or a cow that would be extinct had it not been delicious.

Re: Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

#50

Post by munificent »

oblak wrote: post #31
nickff wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "...billions of animals are systematically tortured. But nobody cares..." Many people do care, and show it in various ways, from paying extra for free-range eggs, to going vegetarian or vegan. I agree with the other commenter that you're being overly cynical.

You're right but it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, though. For every vegetarian, vegan, or anyone just willing to scale down, there are hundreds who would happily consume more of that sweet subsidized meat, even if it kills them. Sorry for the rant

You may discover one day that there is no "grand scheme of things", no final day of reckoning when all of humanity is tallied up to decide once and for all if we're a Good or Bad species.

It's just individuals doing what they can with what they have.

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