Rescue Drone (Team Charlie)

PURPOSE:

    In the event of a catastrophic disaster, even the most modern rescue techniques are not capable of assisting the majority of people whose lives are threatened. Furthermore, the advanced rescue methods drive the cost associated with each rescue mission. An aircraft is needed that increases the percentage of successful rescue missions while lowering their overall operational cost. Enter the Disaster Relief Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (DRU), a cost effective and self-contained aircraft capable of bringing emergency supplies to stranded persons following a disaster. 

    Supplying stranded persons with a variety of basic needs allows for a more prioritized system of rescue missions, therefore, increasing the number of disaster survivors. The DRU accomplishes this by being able to transition from a fixed wing aircraft to a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) configuration. The fixed wing configuration provides the DRU with the speed necessary to reach a multitude of stranded persons throughout the day. The VTOL configuration allows the aircraft to assist stranded individuals in a variety of challenging rescue situations with the capability of hovering in order to drop emergency supplies. The transitional aspect of the aircraft is the main area of technical focus for the design. The DRU has the capability of autonomous and manual operations, allowing for lower operating costs as well as insuring that the aircraft will have the capability to perform in unexpected environments and circumstances. 

    The aircraft is not meant to replace the current rescue operations performed today but rather integrate seamlessly into the existing system. Mobile ground stations fielded by a team of operators will have the capability to command one or several DRUs, ensuring that the maximum number of stranded persons is assisted each day. Employing the DRU as an integral part of today’s rescue teams would set a new standard for all future rescue operations.

MISSION:

    Provide a versatile, self-contained, and cost-effective relief deployment unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which will aid first respondents in providing reconnaissance and relief in a short amount of time, post-disaster.