Utilizing Drones to Restore and Maintain Radio Communication During Search and Rescue Operations.

INTRODUCTION: The ability of rescuers to maintain contact with incident command (IC) and each other is a critical component of search and rescue (SAR) operations. When rescuers lose radio communication with operation leaders, the effectiveness of operations may be substantially affected. This often occurs owing to the limitations of standard communications equipment in difficult terrain or when victims are beyond line-of-sight. This study investigates the viability of using an aerial drone-repeater system configuration to restore and maintain radio communications between IC and deployed rescuers. METHODS: SAR operators in Southern Utah identified 10 areas where radio communication is compromised during live rescue operations. Trained SAR personnel were deployed to these areas in a mock exercise. After confirmed loss of communication, a repeater-equipped aerial drone was piloted 122 m above IC to restore communication. Once restored, communication was assessed at regular intervals for the duration of the mock deployment. RESULTS: In all 10 areas tested, communication was successfully restored. In all cases, once communication was restored, no additional loss of radio contact occurred. The time between communication loss and restoration across the 10 scenarios was 6.5±1.1 (4.4-9.3) min (mean±SD with range). CONCLUSIONS: This method of restoring radio communication among SAR personnel could drastically improve the ability to assist victims and help mitigate the risks faced by rescuers. SAR leaders should be made aware of the useful applications of drones during SAR operations, especially in instances where communication is compromised.

Using an Unmanned Aircraft System (Drone) to Conduct a Complex High Altitude Search and Rescue Operation: A Case Study.

Unmanned aircraft systems, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, are becoming increasingly common consumer products; their potential applications to search and rescue operations are becoming ever more apparent. A consumer drone was used to locate a mountaineer after he and his climbing partner were separated while summiting Broad Peak in the Karakoram Mountains of northeastern Pakistan, the world's 12th highest summit. The use of a commercial drone in the search for the missing climber allowed for a quick rescue mission, eliminating the need for a fully mobilized rescue party while significantly reducing the risk to the climbers charged with rescuing him. Without the drone, the rescue party would have faced immense challenges, including a vast search area and altitudes near the limits of human physiologic function. With real-time imagery and global positioning system capabilities, drones may become an invaluable tool in search and rescue operations, helping to reduce response time and maintain the safety of responders at high altitude and in many other types of difficult terrain.