the efficiency of the quadrotor or quadcopter aerial
vehicle with power sources, light-weight materials,
advanced image stabilization, terrain tracking
and AI-based collision avoidance.
What is the drone’s mission? Is the drone supposed
to fly very long distances as in the case of wildfires
or carry high payloads? Is the drone going to fly in
a limited radius or at great distance or altitude? This
will determine the energy source. It appears that drone
solution providers have reached a limit when it comes
to power density or the available power per unit mass
or volume. Lithium-Polymer (Li-Po) and Lithium-Ion
(Li-ion) batteries continue to become smaller and more
affordable, thanks to the smartphone industry.
The use of tethered drones where a power source
is continuous has been useful for perimeter and event
surveillance, flying in limited formation. How can
a drone be dispatched for a closer look at a wildfire,
detected by AI-based long range object recognition,
when the typical flight time for an advanced quad-
copter is about 45 minutes?
With superior lift, limited drag, capability of flying
40-50 miles per hour and a conservative flight time
of five hours, fixed wing, dual rotor drones are a
welcome advancement for first responders (Figure 7).
July/August 2019 I 15
Can You Hear Me Now? Acoustic
and Energy Signature Sensors
The U.S. Department of Defense introduced directional
projectile energy sensors in an effort to protect armed
forces under threat of covert enemy snipers, providing
energy-based firearms detection with weapon’s round
caliper identification. These sensors are invaluable in
determining the presence and path of an active assailant.
When mental health facilities in Europe needed
a way to detect patient anger escalation, they turned
to companies skilled in recognizing acoustic signatures
of vocal patterns, glass breakage and firearms. They
created application software that distinguishes between
a non-violent discussion and an escalating argument
or fight.
The Launch of the Super Drone
It seems that almost every trade show has the presence
of drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as a technology
demonstration. Considering the amount of recent
natural and man-made disasters, there seems to be many
opportunities for search and rescue to provide tactical
overwatch, map the changing terrain, survey transportation
infrastructure stability and protect soft targets.
Drone manufacturers have done an amazing job with
FIGURE 7: Social media monitoring enhances intelligence and residential evacuation progress.
The remote launch of additional fixed wing UAS tracks and predicts the projected wildfire
path, allowing the primary response UAS to provide overwatch.
This “super drone” is
a fusion of the consumer
electronics, AI, energy,
wireless, location services
and aviation industries. It is
a multi-sensor equipped UAS
capable of detecting gas leaks
from refineries, smoke from
wildfires and even airborne
biothreats. With the advancements
of fixed wing UAS
underway, there is now
available integration with
public safety answering
points (PSAPs) and computer
aided dispatch systems.