Hurricane Harvey

Unmanned System Applications

There are many drone hobby enthusiasts or even more knowledgeable Unmanned Aircraft Systems operators who may want to see the landscape for themselves or utilize their skill sets to help in the rescue efforts. Helping in rescue efforts is a commendable action yet at what point do some efforts hamper or directly interfere with organized government groups such as the U.S. Coast Guard or National Guard who are conducting helicopter or fixed wing flights for search and rescue. Quadcopters are a great tool and can be used in numerous ways especially if you include the different detection devices, such as thermal cameras.

One platform that has not been developed, that I know of, is a quadcopter that has submersible capabilities. This would assist in risk management in situations where there are other air assets that are being used in the vicinity for the physical rescue of individuals. Or on the flip side if there are boats being used in the area the UAS could be flown. This UAS, or what I would like to dub, Multi Asset/Role Vehicle (MARV), could fly when needed or to avoid water obstacles or perform searches from higher vantage points. Or could be waterborne, avoiding other airborne assets while performing limited search functions or other functions entirely.

Search and rescue is not just looking for individuals in includes having situational awareness. If a scout MARV could perform reconnaissance on possible waterways for Coast Guard boats to use this cold mitigate other risks. Ensuring waterways are clear of submerged obstacles or locating drowned victims.

As well, these vehicles could submerge to avoid floating obstacles or to inspect infrastructure. During large scale disasters such as Hurricane Harvey it is possible for bridges or other structures to receive significant damage. Though search and rescue efforts are of high priority MARV’s could potentially be used to locate or determine structural damage on key infrastructures, especially if they are on waterways in which search and rescue operations are intended to be on.

While the most beneficial search and rescue may be airborne operations for exploring large areas quickly there are times when it is safest to not have too much air traffic. It is in these situations and for the other capabilities which were pointed out that Unmanned Vehicles could potentially have an extremely significant role in search and rescue efforts.