Search and Rescue

DJI Upgrades M200 Series & FlightHub With Night Flights & BV…

Night flights and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations are coming and DJI is preparing the ground. Today the Chinese manufacturer launched an upgrade to their most popular enterprise drone and improvements to FlightHub, the company’s operation management platform. The Matrice 200 series is getting a serious revamp (and …

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Can Drone Images Be Used to Identify People? Probably Not, U…

It’s a common science fiction theme that drones and other means of surveillance may someday be used to track individuals, using AI and teams of government officials to identify people from aerial images.  There’s no need to get nervous yet, though – a paper published by two UK-based researchers says …

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Micro-drones Can Anchor onto Surfaces and Pull Heavy Loads

A Euro-American research team has developed a micro-drone that can open doors to new possibilities – literally, not figuratively. The flying robot – dubbed FlyCroTug – is outfitted with a gripping apparatus. Two of the diminutive drones work together to pull objects – for example — lassoing a door handle …

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FLIR and Dronesense Partner on Software Platform for First R…

Thermal imaging specialists FLIR Systems have plenty of interest in the drone industry, particularly when it comes to public safety. The Oregon-based company partnered with DJI earlier this year to launch the Zenmuse XT2, a dual optical and thermal camera designed to support firefighters and first responders. Now the company …

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DJI, EENA & Black Channel Release SAR Drone Study Findings

Drones are increasingly being adopted by public safety teams and first responders. A study out this week from DJI, the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) and Irish research firm Black Channel, shows why that trend is set to continue. And research like this is important. You’ll struggle to find an emergency service anywhere …

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Italian Engineer Wins $20,000 Grant to Develop Drone Ambulan…

A $20,000 prize has been awarded to Italian Vincenzo Navanteri by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Navanteri won the Prince Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon Grant at the FAI International Drones Conference and Expo, in Lausanne, Switzerland, for his drone ambulance concept. Switzerland, of course, is no stranger to drones transforming traditional medical services. …

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Drone Software Firm Teams Up with Experts to Make Searches E…

Drone mission-software provider UgCS (or SPH Engineering) is partnering with Airborne Response to enhance UAV-led search and rescue efforts. UgCS software enhancements includes customizable search patterns such as the “expanding square” and “creeping line” that can be used in both search operations and on other missions. “Based on the flight …

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