The Weber County Sheriff's Office in Utah is testing the DJI DJI FC30 cargo drone, which could greatly enhance its search-and-rescue capabilities and potentially change the way emergency supplies are delivered over challenging terrain.
Horton, who oversees the county's search and rescue operations, said, "It can take us two or three hours to take a call for a search and rescue, whereas before it could take four or five hours." With the increased demand, the increased efficiency has been helpful.
For example, search and rescue teams carry life baskets, wheeled stretchers, EKGs and medical supplies, which can greatly slow down a search and rescue team, especially when going uphill. If this FC30 drone can carry these supplies, by delegating the task of transporting heavy equipment to the drone, rescuers can get to victims faster and easier, potentially saving valuable time in life-threatening situations.
A bill to ban these drones was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in June due to national security concerns. Some of DJI's critics are concerned about possible access to personal information from the apps that control the drones.
But DJI says their system is secure and customers don't need to use their software to fly their drones or even connect to the internet.
Kyle Nordfors of Webb County Search and Rescue says U.S.-made drones don't perform as well as those made by China's DJI and are more expensive.
Rescue teams in Webb County first started using drones in 2018. Horton said there are now two drones dedicated to rescue operations: one is a DJI product valued at about $23,500. The other, purchased through fundraising and donations, was purchased by the county sheriff's office and is valued at about $13,600.
The DJI FC30 cargo drone will complete a nine-month trial with the Webb County Sheriff's Office, and this extended trial will allow deputies to evaluate the drone's performance under varying seasonal conditions.
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