Gene Robinson and his wife Angelique are the owners of RP Search Services were in Livingston Wednesday afternoon to assist in the search for 57-year-old James Buckner who went missing on July 9, 2014. While Equusearch worked with 4-wheelers and ground crews, Robinson covered a lot more area in about ten percent of the time. The fixed wing drone is almost five feet long and is equipped with an digital still camera which is also capable of shooting video.
After getting on a computer in his van and setting up a flight plan the drone is taken out and set up. The flight plan keeps the aircraft away from highways and within the field of view.
A flight checklist is then done, something like an airplane pilot would go through. He then throws it to the air like a glider as the engine spins up as it goes up the flight altitude. Robinson’s wife Angelique then takes over with the computer flying the aircraft from waypoint to waypoint as it continues to shoot overlapping photos which will then be gone over with a fine tooth comb looking for evidence of the missing man or areas that the ground crews need to search.
Several years ago it was Robinson, who after five days of looking for little red headed Devon Davis flew his drone in the area of Liberty County that he was missing. On that search Angelique Robinson spotted a blotch of red amongst the green scum covered pond. As everyone thought it to be an ice chest, she insisted it be checked. DPS Ranger Kevin Pullen ordered the DPS helicopter in the air to take a look. Within seconds the helicopter reported the news-the red was indeed the child.
Robinson has also done several Webinars on SUASNEWS.COM on the subject of drones.
He has traveled to several countries and around the state with his volunteer organization, searching for the missing.
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