Polish start-up developing first fully autonomous ‘rescue’ drone
Polish start-up set to revolutionize rescue missions with world's first fully autonomous drone
14:14, 24.10.2024
jc/kk/ew;
Polish start-up set to revolutionize rescue missions with world's first fully autonomous drone A start-up from southern Poland is set to revolutionize rescue missions with the world’s first fully autonomous drone.
A start-up from southern Poland is set to revolutionize rescue missions with the world’s first fully autonomous drone.
Photo: DefendEye P.S.A. via LinkedIn, Youtube/James Buchheim
Krakow-based start-up DefendEye uses AI technology and its own flight controllers to provide airborne monitoring without the need to configure the device or use trained pilots.
The company said that for military purposes, “the drone launches in under 10 seconds without pilot training, detects and locates attackers, identifies individuals with weapons, and is disposable and cost-effective, with launch options from both vehicle-mounted and handheld tubes.”
Regarding emergencies at sea, the start-up said: “In a man-overboard emergency, the skipper can launch the AI Search Drone from the bridge or smaller vessels to autonomously search for and hover over the person in the water, with the rescue monitored on bridge monitors.”
The drone is able to identify a person from the air extremely quickly, with the drone’s imaging system providing appropriate markers in real time.
It can also be used as an aid for tackling fires, with the company saying that it is possible to “deploy the drone from fixed launch tubes as the fire truck arrives, providing immediate aerial images of the fire scene with fused thermal and optical imaging, requiring no pilot or setup time and utilizing disposable dual thermal and optical capabilities.”
The drone is capable of taking off on its own, searching an area, identifying and tracking targets, and then landing safely.
The company's James Buchheim added that such an advanced level of autonomy significantly simplifies operations, reducing the need for trained operators and enabling a quick response in crisis situations.
DefendEye has also created a compact launch tube which, integrated with motion sensors, can automatically launch the drone when it detects movement or the presence of a human within a radius of 20–50 meters, which ensures immediate response (without the need for human intervention).
“We are convinced that our solution will revolutionize the drone market. Its full autonomy, including take-off, guarantees many applications,” Buchheim said.
“The combination of built-in AI and a simple but intelligent take-off system creates a new ecosystem in the drone space, allowing us to find people faster, cheaper and more efficiently,” he added.
