Revolutionizing Search and Rescue Efforts: Autel Drones Bring Hope in Finding Missing Persons
Each year, individuals go missing, leaving the community and loved ones desperately searching for answers. For law enforcement agencies, search and rescue missions are almost always a race against time. Analysis shows that the longer a person remains lost, the more difficult it becomes to locate them and in many cases, locate them in good health. Over the past few years, new solutions have emerged to aid efforts. Drones have become a critical tool for agencies who need the ability to rapidly cover larger areas of terrain quickly and efficiently. As technology has improved, drones also carry thermal capabilities, providing even more value to agencies in their effort to increase the chances of finding missing individuals. This is the exact reason Clarkstown Police Department began using Autel drones.
The Clarkstown Police Department
Clarkstown is a town in Rockland County, New York, with a population of over 80,000 residents. The town is served by the Clarkstown Police Department, which is responsible for providing law enforcement over an area of approximately 47 square miles, employing over 100 officers.
In a recent search for an autistic boy who had gone missing, the department was able to quickly utilize Autel’s EVO II drone to conduct a full search and locate the 15-year old. It also played a crucial role in the successful search and rescue of a stranded hiker late November 2022.
Autel’s EVO II Drone for Law Enforcement Operations
The Autel EVO II drone was first introduced to the department in 2019, with the goal of providing officers with an aerial view of incidents and situations that were difficult to access on foot. The drone's 40-minute flight time and 4K camera with 8x digital zoom capabilities made it an excellent tool for this purpose. It also has an impressive 5.5mi (9km) range, meaning it can cover a large area in a short amount of time.
Real-time Video, Thermal Imaging for Searching and Tracking
One of the main advantages of using the Autel EVO II drone is its ability to provide real-time video to officers on the ground. Be it search and rescue, tracking a high-speed target or surveillance - the drone's 360-degree obstacle avoidance system allowed it to navigate around buildings and other obstacles, ensuring that the officers have maximum clarity in any given area. This situational transparency also makes the drone pilot uniquely able to channel vital information to other ground units in real time. The information is enabling everyone involved to make better, more informed decisions, much more quickly.
The drone's thermal imaging camera detects heat signatures from the ground with ease, assisting officers to locate missing persons quickly and efficiently, or identify possible getaway drivers and vehicles based on heat signatures. With eight different thermal color pallets, officers also have the flexibility to switch depending on the weather or collect more information as a situation unfolds.
A Cost-Effective Solution for Law Enforcement
The Autel EVO II drone has become an indispensable tool for the Clarkstown Police Department, providing officers with rapid-deploying aerial units for situations and incidents that previously would have required aerial assistance from helicopters that require heavier support costs or go without aerial support at all. The drone's versatility and range of features make it an excellent tool for a variety of law enforcement applications, from search and rescue missions to tracking suspects on the run. It is cost-effective, with a much lower operating cost and is best when complementing more traditional response tactics to broaden the agencies service portfolio.
Overall, the Autel EVO II drone and Clarkstown Police Department continue to enhance their ability to provide the best possible service to their community. Autel Robotics continues to innovate across their portfolio of enterprise-grade drones, cameras, and related technology to better serve industries and communities across the globe.
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