Two interesting stories involving automated search: the first involves a satellite called EO-1, that can collaborate with other satellites to focus in on changes in weather or another phenomenon such as forest fires. Upon detection, it can then track and assist scientists without the need for manual reprogrammation (sic).
The other is a new mesh-network of sorts being rolled out throughout the commercial airline industry. When an airplane is equipped with this system called TAMDAR, it can continually beam updated meteorological and climate changes to a central weather station via satellite. From there, air traffic can be diverted based upon storms and what not — thus, you can only imagine the volume and accuracy of data when thousands of aircraft worldwide adopt the system.