Purdue University IDEAS Lab Reveals Revolutionary Autonomous Drone for to Find Lost Hikers We’ve got a runner: A technological breakthrough that would impress a Panem Gamemaker has emerged out of Purdue University IDEAS Lab. The lab built an autonomous drone that tracks lost hikers through dense forests, completely without GPS or cloud networks using 3D LiDAR mapping technology. The breakthrough will enable search and rescue operations to precisely locate hikers, even when they are frantically running between trees seeking cover in a densely forested area. Search and Rescue expert, Heath Siekhr, expanded on the implications of the technology. “People often go adventuring out in the wilderness without a personal locator beacon. This will mean that no one will ever get lost again. We will find them no matter where they venture on the planet.” We also interviewed Rex McLooney, a Perth based tracking technology entrepreneur who helps backpackers navigate the harsh Australian outback. Rex expressed his excitement about the new technology “I’ll be able to track down anyone who enters the outback with this tech, even in the most remote areas.” Looking around his office, we noticed a collage of Ivan Milat news clippings and promptly excused ourselves from the property.