Emergency service companies use drones’ distinctive qualities and AI-driven Software for Drones to their advantage worldwide. Their participation in numerous public emergency and safety actions has already saved hundreds of lives.
Drones are employed in a variety of situations, including public safety. However, one use case, in particular, attracts attention since it offers clear advantages. We are referring to search and rescue as the Video Analytics Solution.
SAR’s Benefits – The Drones Search and Rescue
Unlike other public safety activities, search and rescue missions can be challenging and unpredictable. These two variables significantly influence the total success of a SAR operation:
- Time
Most SAR efforts include a missing individual caught in a time-sensitive, life-threatening scenario. Therefore, rescuers must locate the victim as soon as possible.
- Terrain
Outside of inhabited areas, SAR operations may encounter difficult terrain like snowy mountains, a jungle, etc., which could impede the operation.
To overcome obstacles in their job, SAR teams all around the world are adopting drones for the following reasons:
- Drones Fly Quickly
Drones may travel far faster and even to inaccessible locations than ground-based vehicles. For instance, the Mountain Rescue Service of the Czech Republic is a company that employs drones to locate missing persons who are buried by avalanches.
- Peripheral Awareness
Drones offer quick, inexpensive access to aerial data across a big area. Responders can then map the whole search area and identify potential hiding spots for the missing person.
- Examine And Verify
Different sensors that drones can carry can be used to recognize items on the ground. The following section will discuss the specifics of how these sensors are employed.
- Communication
The missing individual can be made aware that people are seeking them by hearing a message repeatedly broadcast from a drone carrying a loudspeaker.
Learn More: 15 Best Labelling Images And Annotation Tools in 2022
What Sorts of Drones Are Used in Search and Rescue Operations?
Multi-copters are the best drones for search and rescue operations because they are adaptable, maneuverable, and flexible.
The good news is that many drones can be used for SAR operations. A drone is appropriate for search and rescue if it has a long flying time, a high-quality camera that can take high-resolution pictures and videos, and a long transmission range.
Various considerations will determine the drone an organization purchases for SAR missions. This includes flight duration, range, weather, the location of most rescue operations, and funding.
Although some drones offer more features and longer flying lengths, the list is not in any specific order. Organizations will ultimately have to choose the finest drone for their unique requirements.
- DJI Matrice 210 V2
a versatile drone with multiple uses is appropriate for search and rescue operations because of its tough design, which enables it to operate in chilly and damp situations and carry varied payloads.
The Matrice 210 V2 has an obstacle avoidance system, an anti-collision beacon, and a built-in ADS-B receiver. It can also carry two payloads at once. The drone has a maximum flight length of 33 minutes and is compatible with most of DJI’s RGB and thermal imaging cameras.
- Autel Evo 2 Dual 640T
The Autel Evo 2 Dual 640T has a 48MP RGB camera and a 640512 thermal imaging camera, just like the Mavic 2 Enterprise. The drone has a 38-minute flight time9-kilometrelometer control range. This drone is strong, has excellent wind resistance, and includes a 360-degree obstacle avoidance system. This drone does not require a smartphone to view livefeedseo feed and other drone data because the remote controller has a huge LCD display.
- DJI Matrice 300 RTK
The most durable drone on this list, with dual control capability and a design that enables flight in even the worst weather situations. The drone has a maximum flight time of 55 minutes, one of the longest for any multi-copter drone, and it can be flown by two pilots, allowing SAR teams to widen their search area.
This drone’s versatility with regard to payload attachments and compatibility with most DJI cameras, including the 45MP full-frame Zenmuse P1 and the Zenmuse XT2 with its twin RGB and infrared imaging cameras, are two of its benefits. An anti-collision beacon, several redundancy systems built in, a 15 km control range and an omnidirectional obstacle are further characteristics.
- DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise
A drone with two cameras, the Mavic 2 Enterprise has a 640*512 thermal imaging camera and a 48MP RGB camera. While the RGB camera has a 32 HD zoom and a 4 lossless zoom, the thermal camera has a 30Hz frame rate and can zoom up to 16. It can fly for 30 minutes and has a 10 km transmission range. Omnidirectional obstacle detection and an ADS-B receiver are safety features. Numerous accessories that may be attached to the Mavic 2 Enterprise will give the drone additional capability.
- Parrot Anafi Thermal
The Parrot Anafi Thermal has two cameras and is perhaps the least expensive drone on this list. The Anafi Thermal is a small, lightweight drone with a range of 4 km and a flight time of 24 minutes. The thermal camera has a thermal sensitivity rating of 50Mk and can take still images with a resolution of 1440 x 1080 pixels, whereas the RGB camera can record 4k films and shoot images at a resolution of 21 MP.
All of the drones I’ve listed have high-resolution thermal and RGB cameras. There are many more drone options that are appropriate for search and rescue missions, though, if you believe that thermal imaging cameras are not going to be necessary.
Wrapping It Up!
In this article, we covered the benefits of using drones for search and rescue operations as well as their application. Additionally, we discussed a few well-known drones and payloads that are useful for search and rescue missions. We concluded by talking about how Folio3 as a solution improves drone capabilities for public safety missions.
