Drone Used in Search and Rescue

Introduction

Drones have unique characteristics that are used by emergency responders all around the world. Through their participation in numerous public emergency and safety actions, they have already saved hundreds of lives.

The COVID epidemic of 2020 has pushed the use of drones for public safety. During a global shutdown, authorities in India employed drones to monitor cities and enforce social distance norms. Drones are employed in a wide range of public safety applications. However, there is one use case that draws people’s attention since the benefits are straightforward. The application in question is search and rescue.

Definition of Search and Rescue

SAR, or search and rescue, is a subset of public safety operations that encompasses activities centered on finding missing individuals. In most nations, it is the responsibility of the fire department.

Recently in Malaysia, drones are being employed in a search and rescue (SAR) operation to find a private institution of higher learning (IPTS) student who went trekking in Pulau Mawar and went missing. Thermal imaging drone was used during the search and rescue operation. Similar to this, there are countless more stories about how drones saved lives.

How Drones Are Used in Search and Rescue Operation?

The true value of drones for rescue operators is the simple access to aerial data of a vast region, which allows the rescue team to hasten the process of finding a missing person, where every second counts.

Drones can carry a variety of payloads that can be employed in a variety of situations. The 4K wide-angle camera and the infrared camera are two common payloads that are frequently utilized during search and rescue missions.

Because the quality is lost while viewing a still image, HD video from a drone is not very useful in a search and rescue mission. A high resolution still image, on the other hand, might provide crucial information to individuals on the ground searching for the missing person. As a result, cameras capable of capturing high-resolution still photos are favored. Thermal cameras are widely utilized in search and rescue activities, particularly at night.

Advantages of Search and Rescue (SAR) Drones

Here are some of the reasons why search and rescue teams throughout the world are turning to drones to help them overcome obstacles in their work:

Drones are fast: Drones can reach a site more faster than ground-based vehicles, and they can even reach inaccessible regions. Last year in Malaysia, many places were heavily affected by the flood and drones were utilized in many facets of crisis management during this disaster.
‍Situational awareness: Drones enable inexpensive, quick access to aerial data covering a vast area. This enables responders to map the whole search area and indicate potential locations where the missing individual may be imprisoned.
Detect and identify: Drones can be equipped with a variety of sensors that can be used to identify ground objects.
Communication: A drone equipped with a loudspeaker can repeatedly broadcast a message alerting the missing individual that people are looking for him or her.

Best Drones for Search and Rescue Operation

DJI Mavic 3T

The DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise redefines industry standards for small commercial drones. With a mechanical shutter, a 56× zoom camera, and an RTK module for centimeter-level precision, the Mavic 3E brings mission efficiency to new heights. The thermal version is available for firefighting, search and rescue, inspection, and night operations.

DJI Matrice 30T

Introducing DJI’s Comprehensive Solution: DJI Matrice 30 Series, DJI Dock, and FlightHub 2 – hardware and software that work together to support the everyday heroes who come to our aid and who protect the foundations that society is built upon.⁠

Dual-vision and ToF sensors on all six sides of the aircraft, and a built-in ADS-B receiver help keep the aircraft and your missions safe. Together with redundancies, backup systems and an transmission system in the all new RC Plus controller, the Matrice 30 Series drone is not only light and portable, but extremely reliable.

DJI Matrice 300 RTK

The DJI Matrice 300 RTK is the industry standard commercial drone platform that takes inspiration from modern aviation systems. Offering up to 55 minutes of flight time, advanced AI capabilities, 6 Directional Sensing & Positioning and more, the M300 RTK sets a whole new standard by combining intelligence with high-performance and unrivaled reliability.

Known for its versatility, the M300 RTK works in conjunction with the Zenmuse series payloads. Execute missions that are require custom complex integrations with DJI’s developer SDK.

Conclusion

In this article, it can be concluded that drones can be a valuable tool in these situations. Drones can quickly cover a large area, provide real-time footage of the search area, and access hard-to-reach places. They can also be equipped with thermal imaging cameras, which can detect heat signatures from people and animals.