What I want to know is why the
M3's obstacle avoidance didn't stop it from crashing into your deck?
Coal:
Your video made my Sunday. The Super Bowl will be an afterthought.
I watched the entire video in awe. You are really an amazing innovator, and I admire your persistence in developing these amazing products. Fortunately, I live in a non cold/snowy environment and I personally would never have the fortitude to fly in adverse conditions. (I grew up from birth to age 26 in Chicago). I only fly in good conditions. I really do not enjoy flying in the rain.
If I were to face this situation, I would have done exactly what you did, which is to ask to retrieve the drone from the roof. However, I can understand Karen's reluctance to allow you to crawl over her roof. In these days of litigation-happy people, where we are battered by constant TV and billboard ads by avaricious attorneys, the chance of you hurting her roof, or yourself are not insignificant. Thus, when refused to mount her roof (I said her roof), I would have offered to pay for a roofing expert, and/or cherry picker who would guarantee the integrity of her roof, and some sort of disclaimer or liability release, if your roof or either of you were injured.
I am now imagining a "Larry David" episode where Larry crawls up the roof, then slides down the snow, falls and sustains serious injury, and damages the roof, gutters, and shrubs on his way down. When the ambulance arrives, each one accuses a lawsuit against the other. I am now laughing and smiling considering this.
Since your explanation of the reason for having the drone in the air was a noble one (searching for a lost person), there should be no reason why she got so bent out of shape.
Dale