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Unmanned Systems Assets for Search and Rescue








Unmanned Systems Assets for Search and Rescue
Raymond J. DeMarco III
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide















Unmanned Systems Assets for Search and Rescue
           
Unmanned maritime assets are important in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations associated with sport and social water activities.  SAR teams can augment their search ability and ultimately reduce crucial rescue response time.  NATO’s Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation’s (CMRE) project to aid in rescue missions is known as the Integrated Components for Assisted Rescue and Unmanned Search (ICARUS) operations.  This project’s efforts focus on developing unmanned maritime platforms to aid SAR and disaster relief.  Unmanned SAR efforts compliment SAR teams in dangerous scenarios and adverse environmental conditions while minimizing danger risk to rescuers (Matos, 2013).  There has always been a need for rescuing personnel in the water in adverse weather conditions. 
           
An air-droppable, diesel powered unmanned maritime vehicle known as SARPAL (Search and Rescue Portable, Air launch-able) has been developed for the Canadian Department of National Defense (DND).  It is remotely operated and semi-autonomous.  SARPAL is deployed by air-drop from a CC-130 above the targeted site of crisis while the command and control station receives live video in the CC-130 aircraft. 
Sensors installed on SARPAL include Global Positioning System (GPS), audio, and real-time video cameras.  Cameras and floodlights are mounted fore and aft to locate victims and one is located interior to monitor the condition of survivors aboard the vessel.  One of the two forward cameras is infrared.  Infrared cameras offer an advantage over visible light cameras; humans and mammals radiate more heat than their surroundings (ISE's SARPAL USV, 2017).  This is advantageous in darkness, fog, deep canyons, and any poor visibility conditions. There will be a good contrast of cold water to human survivors through infrared video.  GPS is necessary for waypoint navigation; search patterns are preset and rendezvous points are established through GPS for recovery of survivors. 

SAR Unmanned Aerospace Systems (UAS) should join SARPAL on these missions.  A SAR in open water can expand the search area exponentially with the use of UAS equipped with infrared vision.  These UAS can swarm and sweep notifying operators at the control station of ‘hits’ on infrared.  SARPAL can be directed to those points and make the rescue.  UAS may also carry a floatation device that can be dropped to a victim if they reach the victim more quickly than SARPAL.  Command and control of UAS and USVs working together are the ultimate SAR team.

The advantages of SAR responsibilities in the hands of unmanned systems are very clear.  UAS and USVs will cover a more vast area in search of survivors with the help of sensor technology that the human eye is incapable of.  Rescue missions that are too dangerous for people, putting them at major risk in adverse conditions will be left to unmanned systems to give victims a chance where rescuers cannot reach them.  When people are needed to be there, they will locate victims faster when unmanned systems are deployed.
References:
ISE's SARPAL USV. (2017). Ise.bc.ca. Retrieved 3 April 2017, from http://www.ise.bc.ca/sarpal.html
Matos, A., Silva, E., Cruz, N., Alves, J. C., Almeida, D., Pinto, M., Machado, D. (2013). Development of an unmanned capsule for large-scale maritime search and rescue.

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