US 10,668,997 B2 · Unmanned aerial vehicle search and rescue system

Abstract

A search and rescue drone system includes a buoyant body member, a frame attached to the buoyant body member for carrying a motor and propeller, and an electronic array including a camera, GPS, an EPIRB radio distress beacon, and a transmitter/receiver for remote control flying the drone and communicating with an operator. The search and rescue drone may be flown manually, or may have some autonomous flight and locator capabilities. For example, in one embodiment, the search and rescue drone may be programmed to simply fly to the location of an electronic wearable device, like a bracelet, that is worn by a man overboard. In another embodiment, the search and rescue drone includes a basket, harness, or other means for actually recovering a swimmer in distress, and flying that person back to safety on a ship or on shore.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A lifesaving unmanned aerial vehicle system comprising:

a main body member that is buoyant;
a frame extending upwardly from said main body member, said frame further including a series of arms extending outwardly so that a motor and propeller are disposed at a distal end of each arm;
said frame carrying a camera, a transmitter and receiver, a battery, spotlights oriented in a downward direction, and an onboard computing device;
an EPIRB radio beacon attached to said unmanned aerial vehicle for transmitting a distress signal along with location coordinates of said unmanned aerial vehicle;
and
a remote control device that wirelessly communicates with said transmitter and receiver for flying said unmanned aerial vehicle system, and further, for controlling said lights, said camera, and for receiving video images from said camera.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Unmanned aerial vehicle search and rescue system

Life of this patent

Unmanned aerial vehicle search and rescue system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16