Packable UAS Searches for Cell and Wireless Signals to Find Lost Hikers

An integrated, communications-seeking drone has been developed for Teledyne FLIR Defense drones.

The Robotics Centre Echo Search and Rescue payload enables the drone to canvass areas of wilderness while attempting to connect to mobile devices of those lost or injured individuals being searched for.  Once contact is made with their devices, an immediate line of communication can be made, allowing for rapid response and rescue.

The ability to scan a region and home in on a signal enables maximum economy of effort and search resources when speed is vital. In order to maximize the performance of their payload the developers reached into the Teledyne Drone Portfolio, particularly its FLIR R80D SkyRaider and R70 SkyRanger UAV line. The use of a more durable, higher-end model brings Teledyne’s all-weather, milspec systems into play to strengthen as many links in the rescue chain as possible.

The lightweight, man-deployable drones yield additional benefits with multiple units, increasing the size and spread of the search area over traditional searches using only 1 or 2 manned aircraft. In the past, the same tech used in the SAR payload was relegated solely to full-size aircraft, greatly limiting its use in a search as crews required obstacle and terrain clearance for their safety, increasing the difficulty searching secluded and difficult terrain. 

"Previously, ARTEMIS airborne capabilities were only available for use on manned rotary and fixed-wing platforms," said Dr. Eric Karmouch, CTO of Robotics Centre, the developer of the SAR payload system. "Now, for the first time, this life-saving technology can be deployed in minutes on a small quad-rotor UAV, providing a whole new capability to SAR operators working in the most difficult conditions."

"ARTEMIS turns a mobile phone into a rescue beacon and was designed specifically for SAR and natural disaster situations," said Andrew Munro, director for the cell network specialist that developed the signal-seeking technology, Smith Myers. "By integrating this capability onto Teledyne FLIR drones through the Echo payload, Robotics Centre has created a truly game-changing tactical UAS solution.

"The Echo SAR payload adds a critical new sensory capability to our SkyRaider and SkyRanger platforms," said Anne Bulik, vice president of unmanned aerial systems at Teledyne FLIR defense. "From disaster relief to border security and beyond, we see many applications for small UAS mobile device detection across both our defense and non-defense customer communities."

FMI: www.teledyneflir.com