A drone built exclusively for first responders that can fly more than three times faster than a majority of the commercial drones currently available, is also able to recharge its batteries while in flight, reports unilad.co.uk.
The 140mph Sonin Hybrid Recruit can achieve this because of its gasoline and battery-powered system, which the firm says it is in the process of patenting.
Unveiled by Atlanta-based drone manufacturer Sonin Hybrid, the new Recruit can also fly for longer than three hours and comes equipped with a 30X optical/12X digital zoom4K video camera with fixed and mobile target tracking, a Forward Looking Infra-red camera with night vision, and a spotlight.
In a press release, Sonin Hybrid said its Recruit drone’s enhanced capabilities will ‘keep first responders safe and extend their missions’ in a way that hasn’t previously been possible. Despite the increasing deployment of drones used by police, firefighters and other government bodies, few if any, are designed specifically for first responders.
This is primarily down to the limitations of battery-powered drones, which usually must reach a charging point within a short period of time. Ultimately, this means long-range missions aren’t viable.
The Recruit drone aims to change all of this with its carbon fibre body, lightweight airframe and the company’s hybrid system. All of these features ensure the Recruit flies longer and faster than other similar drones.
Curtis Foster, founder of Sonin Hybrid, states in a statement, “While we were in the process of finalising the design of our hybrid power system for drones, we realised that we could get the most range by designing our own airframe.” He continues, “The next question was: for who? There were plenty of commercial drones out there, but very few were specifically manufactured for first responders.”
Adding, “Well before the onset of the pandemic, we decided that police and fire-fighters needed this technology the most, and immediately set out to build the Recruit.” The company is currently in the process of launching trials with several police and fire departments across the U.S. ‘to finalise which capabilities are most important to first responders’.
The aim is for shorter response times and better prepared public safety personnel in emergency situations.
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(News Source: https://www.unilad.co.uk)