Will Soon Deploy Aerial Technology International Purpose-Built UAV

Portland, OR-based Mountain Wave Search and Rescue will soon deploy a new purpose-built drone to assist in its SAR efforts.

Television station KGR reports that the new drone was custom-built for Mountain Wave SAR by Aerial Technology International. Lawrence Dennis, the co-founder of Aerial Technology International who also helps with Mountain Wave SAR, said that he designed the drone to be able to handle heavier loads and fly in more challenging conditions, such as higher winds and temperature extremes.

It is also built so that new sensors, cameras and other modules can be easily added, meaning it will not need to be replaced as technology advances. It can also communicate with multiple devices, sending video and thermal imaging information to a command center, as well as delivering cell phones, packages and rope lines.

The base price of the drone is about $6,000. With all the "bells and whistles", it comes in at between $15,000 and $20,000, according to the report. It was paid for using grant money from the Clackamas County Search and Rescue team.

Mountain Wave SAR staff will be training with the new aircraft for about a month before deploying it in the field.

(Image from Mountain Wave SAR Twitter)

FMI: mwave.org, twitter.com/mountainwavesar?lang=en