On SAR missions with UAVs
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have increasingly become a common tool to deal with Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. UAVs are able to perform missions with high level of complexity and, at the same time, they require less human operator involvement due to their autonomous behavior. Flying robots can perform a wide range of tasks which are considered dirty, dull and dangerous by humans. The search phase in SAR missions, as a particular example of the broader type of surveillance missions (in which camera coverage of a given area must be guaranteed), are examples of such tiresome tasks.
In the case of emergency situations such as natural disasters, finding potential survivors requiring medical attention is of utmost importance. Such missions require high navigation precision and long operation times -this is tedious for human pilots. UAV systems can be planned to autonomously execute complete missions from takeoff to landing. In this way, video footage of every square meter of a devastated area can be collected or even medicines, food, water... can be delivered to a temporarily non-accesible person. The following is an example of a SAR UAV, specilized in surveillance and with help-delivery capabilities.
Natural disasters are particularly challenging: despite the urgent need of finding and rescuing people, any map of the area to be operated may results useless For example, earthquakes, floodings... can severly destroy the environment and this is a major issue for ground teams which will not know how to reach the desired targets. Thus, fast re-mapping of damaged areas is a first action to take after natural disasters. There is where UAVs are strong at -the fast deployment of those systems enable a quick look of the envirnoment and triggers fast responses of the teams, which do not have to wait for airplanes or satellites to reach the area, sense it and deliver a final product. The following video depicts an example of aerial and ground robots producing real-time 2D and 3D maps of the environment.
Finally, the following table list few examples of past or actual initiatives around the world in which UAVs and SAR are put together for the benefit of science and society.
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Entity |
Description |
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Aero Works |
Use of Predators as aerial mean for damage assessment using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Although the radar outcome is difficult to interpret in real-time (even not suitable for person recognition), the system is valid for rapid terrain monitoring. |
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Queensland University of Technology |
The Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has created a student program to design, build and operate a UAV compiting with other teams from around the world in the UAV Challenge “Outback Rescue” (Winners in this category receive AU$50,000). The project team is almost entirely student run. Everything from design, construction, testing, operation, funding, management and organisation is handled by members, with guidance provided by an aerospace avionics engineering lecturer. |
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Aalborg University |
The autonomous vehicle group in the Aalborg University is planning to engage in a sea rescue demontration project based on small UAV helicopter (30 - 40 kg). |
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Brigham Young University |
The research team of BYU’s computer science department used a search and rescue drone with object detection algorithms to find missing persons. The team has held a flight trial including training of a SAR team leader on how to use the drone. |
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University of Southern Florida |
The University of Southern Florida’s Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR) has developed two types of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for rescues as a response of the hurricanes which frequently hit Florida. These small vehicles can help rescue workers locate survivors and detect structural damage in hard to reach areas. Within two hours of the first test launch, “the responders had the data form the UAVs showing that no survivors were trapped and that the flood waters from the cresting Pearl River were not posing an additional threat.” |