Drones for Search & Rescue
Taking the “search” out of search and rescue.
Vision Aerial drones are proudly made in America.
Using Drones for Search & Rescue
Respond Rapidly
Reach Inaccessible Areas
Receive Data in Real-Time
Why Vision Aerial?
Faster Response Times Improve Survival Rates
In search and rescue operations, teams race against the clock. Vision Aerial drones take less than two minutes to deploy, whereas helicopters or planes take much longer. Drones also scan wide areas with cameras and sensors more quickly than traditional grid methods. Once the subject is found, GPS coordinates provide SAR teams with a precise location.
Drones Quickly Scan Difficult Terrain
Search and rescue missions often take place in remote locations with dense brush, cliffs, hills, ravines, or other difficult terrains. Drones can fly high over areas that would be difficult to cross on foot. With an autonomous range of 25 km (16 mi), Vision Aerial drones can quickly cover more ground.
Teams Receive Better Data in Real-Time
A drone outfitted with a thermal and infrared camera provides rescuers with information that is invisible to the naked eye. For example, search teams on the ground can use a live-stream of thermal images to look for human shapes. Once found, they zoom in with a high-resolution camera to assess the condition of the missing person. That way they will know what kind of first aid might be needed. Finally, rescuers use precise GPS coordinates to guide them to the subject.
Less Expensive than Helicopters or Airplanes
While helicopters and airplanes can cost several thousand dollars per mission, a drone is a fraction of the cost when amortized over its lifetime. Plus, rescuers can stay safely on the ground at the staging area.
Have Questions or Need a Custom Solution?
Why Use Vision Aerial Drones for Search & Rescue?
Rapid Deployment
Vision Aerial drones fold for easy transport. Go from case to flight in under 2 minutes.
Capable Platforms
Long flight times combined with a substantial payload capacity ensure you have the power to get your job done.
Highly Adaptable
Our drones can carry all the best-in-class cameras and sensors. They easily adapt to support your missions as they evolve.
Easy To Fly
Less than 4 hours of training time, intuitive controls, and ultra-smooth flight mean your team can focus on what matters.
Recommended System for Public Safety
Public Safety System (PSF)
The Public Safety Drone system (PSF) offered by Vision Aerial allows you to conduct an aerial survey a scene in both the visible light and the thermal spectrum. Perfect for applications like search and rescue, urban or wildland firefighting, and law enforcement. Detect hot spots or provide coordination for ground teams. Capture high-resolution images or video in real time.
Features quick deployment when time is of the essence, with less than a 2-minute setup. It is also easy to transport and comes in a weatherproof Pelican case that has compartments for all your accessories. It is also great for accessing hard to reach areas in rugged conditions, and it has an autonomous range of up to 16 km (10 mi) which is incredibly useful for search and rescue applications or monitoring wildfires.
The Indefinite Flight Package (IFP) allows you to charge extra batteries while you fly, enabling back-to-back missions. This system also includes 1-day of training at Vision Aerial’s Flight Center in Bozeman, Montana and a Second Year Warranty.
Key Features
- Less than 2-minute setup and breakdown
- Folds for easy transport in a weatherproof Pelican case
- Rugged construction to stand up to the elements
- Handles wind gusts up to 40 kph (25 mph)
- 16 km (10 mi) flight range†
- Indefinite Flight Package provides enough charging capacity and flight batteries to fly back-to-back missions
- Thermal and RGB camera for visual comparison
- RGB camera comes with Full HD (1920 x 1080 px) resolution
- Thermal camera can measure up to 1,500º C (2,732º F)
- 10x optical zoom
- Picture-merge feature allows you to merge a thermal image with an RGB camera image in real-time, even with 10x optical zoom
- Internal SSD disc with 256 GB memory for recording
What's Included
- SwitchBlade-Elite
- SwitchBlade-Elite Indefinite Flight Package (IFP)
- Workswell WIRIS Pro
- SwitchBlade-Elite Second-Year Warranty
- Training at Vision Aerial
Full Specifications
- SwitchBlade-Elite tricopter drone (Learn more)
- Indefinite Flight Package
- WIRIS Pro Body (640×512 px, 256 GB SSD, 30 Hz) with 13 mm (45° FOV) Lens (View Data Sheet)
- Payload mounting: Gremsy Pixy-WP gimbal (View Data Sheet)
Industry Information
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Successful Drone Search and Rescue Missions
Drones for search and rescue have become increasingly popular due to their ability to cover large areas quickly, access hard-to-reach locations, and provide real-time information to rescue teams. Here are some real-world examples of successful drone search and rescue missions that resulted in saved lives.
How to Use Drones for Search and Rescue
Search and rescue drones are becoming popular tools for public safety teams. Some advantages they have over other methods include quick deployment, lower costs, better image resolution, improved situational awareness, and payload versatility. These are all beneficial to finding subjects quickly and increasing survival rates.
Choosing the Best Drone for Search and Rescue
Looking for the best drone for search and rescue? Read our comprehensive guide on factors to consider when selecting a drone.