Flyhound Corp., a drone technology business, has completed the NEC X incubator programme, advancing the introduction of its unique search and rescue solution.
The Flyhound solution triangulates cellular signals from the mobile devices of missing people and catastrophe victims using many available drone platforms. The information is then displayed on a visual map of the search area in real-time, the New York-based company claimed, enabling rescuers to find missing people 100 times faster than with existing search-and-rescue techniques. They added that a missing person can be found in 30 minutes within a 164-foot radius.
NEC Laboratories Europe developed the technology used by Flyhound. Since it doesn’t require an active cellular connection or participation from the victim to find a device, it is highly suited for use in rural or disaster-stricken places with poor or nonexistent network infrastructure. Additionally, unlike current search-and-rescue drones that use thermal-imaging cameras, Flyhound-equipped drones can locate missing persons without a direct line of sight, which means it can locate them behind trees, foliage, and even within buildings.
Corey Hoefling, a firefighter with the Carlstadt Fire Department in New Jersey, said that knowing where cell phones are in an emergency is “very important from a rescue aspect.” People frequently carry cell phones, so if we need to locate someone in an emergency, this is a tool that can help us get to them more quickly and potentially save lives.
In addition to locating a victim on a map, Flyhound can support resource deployment and keep lines of communication open between various organisations. Additionally, the module offers the user a range of view options, including camera, satellite, topographic, and infrared.
Flyhound CEO and co-founder Manny Cerniglia said, “We are happy to be able to support public safety organisations in the critical work of saving lives and have made it our mission to discover people quickly.
Flyhound technology may also recognise “channel artefacts” left by various disasters, such as earthquake-related debris, flooding, or exceptionally heavy snowfall. The location of disaster victims or missing people can then be determined with the use of this information by first responders. Emergency responders, for instance, can spot homes or structures that have been damaged by natural disasters but may still contain survivors.
The DJI Phantom and Matrice, Skydio X2, Parrot ANAFI, Phy Sci Instant Eye, and Yuneec Typhoon are just a few of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and incident-management systems that the Flyhound module can already be integrated into, or soon will be.
According to President and CEO Shige Ihara, NEC X’s Venture Studio Programs assisted Flyhound in developing the business from “day one.”
Ihara stated that the Flyhound team immediately came together and performed an excellent job conducting customer discovery and connecting with numerous groups, including public-safety authorities, to clearly understand their needs. “They later finished a number of proofs of concepts to confirm the product-market fit. First responders frequently require more personnel, therefore there will always be a need for technology that reduces costs, saves time, and saves lives.
As company moves closer to a full product launch, Flyhound also takes part in the TELUS Community Safety and Wellness Accelerator and the Alchemist Accelerator.
Organizations who want to use Flyhound first can sign up for its early access programme, which will begin accepting applications in early March. Ongoing general availability is anticipated.
Your team will receive training from the Flyhound team to help with mission deployment.
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