South Korea’s New Patent Uses Ground-Based Drones and Airborne Cameras to Rebuild Networks for Search and Rescue
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab
In disaster response situations, re-establishing often damaged communications network is a vital part of coordinating search and rescue efforts. The Republic of Korea Natural Disaster Management Research Institute recently received a US Patent (serial #US2024161597) for a new disaster-response application for UAVs- using a ground-based unmanned vehicle with an antenna as a “base station” for an externally mounted, airborne flying drone equipped with a camera. 
According to the patent, the ground based drone would include storage containing small, wirelessly connected repeater modules that could be dropped along its trail, sort of like Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumbs. These repeater modules would both ensure a strong connection between the ground drone and the camera UAV and possibly be used to restore other signals, like downed cell connection networks. 

“A device for establishing a communication network and collecting situation information at a site of a collapse disaster is disclosed. The device includes a ground drone 10 deployed at the site of the collapse disaster, the ground drone 10 having a communication device 80 mounted thereon, a flying drone 32 mounted on and carried by the ground drone 10 to fly and photograph the site of the collapse disaster, a camera device 40 mounted on the ground drone 10 to photograph surroundings of the ground drone 10, a storage 50 installed on the ground drone 10, and a plurality of repeater modules 60 connected by the wireless communication network to relay wireless communications between the ground drone 10, the flying drone 32, and a command and control center 100, wherein the storage 50 accommodates the repeater modules 60, and throws the repeater modules 60 in response to an operation signal.”
Other recent news from the UAV search and rescue space includes Tokyo-based telecommunications operator KDDI Corporation and Japan Airlines’ recently announced successful test and demonstration of their multi-drone disaster response system in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Also check out Dronelife Features Editor Jim Magill’s recent exploration of how a local fire department in Magnolia, Texas has integrated UAVs into their disaster response approach. 
More information on the South Korean disaster response drone patent, including authors, is available here.

 
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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