DroMight Throws Life Line to SAR

A new drone attachment may improve search-and-rescue efforts and save lives in the process.

Terrestrial Imaging recently announced the release of DroMight. The result of almost a year of research and development, the DroMight allows DJI Phantom users to attach a life line to the UAV that can then be flown to a victim in an emergency situation such as raging rivers or thin ice. Once a line is connected to a victim, a SAR team can provide additional support such as food, a two-way radio or cell phone, as well as a heavier line.

Drones have already proven their worth in SAR situations as well as in firefighting. Firefighters see drone deployment as a vital tool in locating, analyzing and manning a given fire call. As referenced in a recent DRONELIFE article: “Drones are to firefighters what bomb defusal robots are to SWAT teams: they are a way to take a quick look at an extremely dangerous situation without immediately throwing a person into harm’s way.” Recently, firefighters used a UAV to save two rafters stranded on a rock in the middle of a raging river. When the waves became overwhelming, the rescuers used a small unmanned aircraft to toe a line over to the rafters. Drones have also been used to help disaster victims in the Philippines, find a missing man and provide rescue support following the recent deadly earthquake in Nepal.

Texas Equusearch, which sued the FAA earlier this year over its right to use drones in rescue operations, was given special permission in September by the federal agency to fly UAVs in their joint search with the Plano, Texas police department.

A coalition of public safety professionals and drone industry partners recently announced the formation of the Drone Advocates for Public Safety (DAPS), which will focus on training first responders in using drones to support their operations. Based on several successful use cases of drones in various life threatening scenarios, DAPS will help officers understand the possibilities for how drones can be used in emergencies.