In some recent social media posts, the FAA Drone Zone announced that they are doing a redesign to make the website more visually appealing and easier to use. On Monday, the new design was opened to users.

US drone rules can be complicated

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all commercial UAS operators to obtain a remote pilot license under Part 107 of the FAA regulations. To be eligible for a UAS Part 107 license, an applicant must be at least 16 years of age, demonstrate proficiency in English, have adequate physical and mental capacity to operate a UAS safely, pass a written test of aeronautical knowledge and go through a Transport Security Administration background check.

But, if you’re flying a drone just for fun, different rules apply. Recreational UAS operators are not required to obtain a Part 107 license, although they must follow the same rules as commercial operators when it comes to flying their aircraft beyond line of sight . To do this, users must register any drone weighing more than 250 g (0.55 lb) and pass a simple test, called the TRUST test.

New FAA rules allowing UAS operations on people or at night without asking for a special exemption went into effect in December 2020, but only Part 107-certified operators can use them. So in some cases it makes more sense in some cases to get the 107 license anyway (which you can still use to fly for fun between commercial gigs).

These two sets of regulations have confused some drone operators. So the previous version of the Drone Zone website opened with two big links, one for commercial operators and one for recreational operators. But, if you’re a new owner and unsure which set of rules apply, this wasn’t really the easiest way to start. For example, what if you’re just going to learn to fly for now and want to become a commercial later? Or what if you take photos just for fun, but then decide to sell a photo you took for fun to a magazine later?

The new approach to the FAA Drone Zone

Instead of forcing users to make this choice as soon as they arrive at the Drone Zone website, the FAA redesigned the website. From what I can see, my operator dashboard for part 107 hasn’t changed, but what happens before that has changed to make things easier, especially for new visitors who just got a drone for Christmas or something.

Although it looks like they are still changing things up, most of the website focuses on the tasks a person might have to do instead of focusing on the regulatory system that applies to them. You can choose to register a drone, download the B4UFly app and do other things, and the website will send you to the right place.

If you go further they give more information on what the website is, what you can do with it, and also give you a link to help you determine if you will need a Part 107 license to do what you seek. TO DO.

Is this a revolutionary difference in the website? Not really. But it will be a little more useful for people who are getting into electric aviation.

Featured image: DJI press photo.

 

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AHMEDABAD: Standing water that remains unattended on the terraces of commercial stores, residences and even institutions like schools is becoming a major reason for mosquito breeding in several parts of the city. Typically, municipal health inspectors can collectively check 1,000 properties a day, which mostly excludes terraces.
To limit this problem, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will use the services of private agencies to provide it with two drones – the first will identify the breeding sites on the terraces with its high-resolution camera and supported by artificial intelligence, while the second drone equipped with a fumigation will be deployed to identified locations to spray an anti-larval solution on standing water. Two major cities, Mumbai and Hyderabad, and even Mehsana in Gujarat have already deployed such drones as part of the Mosquito Breeding Detector (MBD).
Once the effectiveness of these drones has been assessed, AMC officials say that in the future, data collected from the drones can be used to issue advisories and even fines to owners for mosquito breeding.
A senior health official told TOI that drones can spray an anti-larval agent at the rate of one acre in ten minutes. Currently, the drones used in Mumbai can reach a height of 45 meters with the fumigation tank. “Large waterlogged areas, ponds, etc. are other areas where such drones can be useful and can be deployed,” adds the AMC health officer.
In the eastern parts of the city, there are several one-story shops, such as those selling sanitary ware, which use terraces to store discarded products, which then collect rainwater and become breeding places. “In areas where there are legal obstacles, manual verification will be carried out by our officers, but in western areas, most residential terraces will be monitored for breeding using drones. We will also deploy these drones in areas where more cases of malaria or dengue fever are being reported,” the official adds.

Formerly exclusively military, drones are making their remarkable entrance on the commercial scene.

Today, they are becoming increasingly present in a variety of industries, ranging from first aid to engineering to journalism. We even tend to hear about their amateur use from influencers and photographers, to name a few.

The growing presence of drones in our daily lives could be attributed to their constant evolution and affordability.

While the benefits and even the necessity of drones cannot be underestimated, their use is also debated, mainly due to the security hazard they pose. Many incidents involving drones, whether intentional or accidental, have already been recorded around the world.

Apart from ground objects, air bodies could also be endangered when they encounter drones in their path.

One area particularly concerned about the presence of drones in the airspace is the aviation industry. The devices, sometimes operated inadvertently near commercial aircraft, endanger the aircraft and its passengers.

With the growing number of amateur drone uses, the frequency of close encounters with unmanned aircraft has increased dramatically in recent years.

To limit the potential dangers caused by drones, a specific counter-technology has been developed. Formerly employed in the military – just like their target – anti-drone solutions are now present in airports and their proximity. Their impact on drones varies and not all of them are technology related. Let’s explore.

Monitoring and detection:

The best way to avoid clashes with drones is to prevent them from happening in advance. It is therefore essential that airports have drone monitoring equipment in their arsenal.

We can distinguish the two main categories: active and passive.

Passive monitors constantly scan the surroundings for drones, sending out signals if their presence is spotted.

As for active surveillance, these devices send signals that analyze and classify the drone in question, then provide the specific details about it. Some of them could even discern the fingerprint of the drone user.

These monitors could indicate the exact position of the drone and track it in real time – essential information for the deployment of countermeasures.

Specific tools that keep drones away from the surroundings of airports and planes are then used in conjunction with surveillance devices. It is always best to try to preserve the drone, either to return it to its user or for examination, in the event of a more serious threat. Different methods and technologies have been developed to provide timely and appropriate measurements.

Birds of prey

First on this list: our little friends, the raptors. Known for their hunting of other avifauna whose presence could disrupt flights, these predators are now able to cling to winged adversaries of non-living nature. Nowadays, birds of prey are trained to find and intercept drones. The advantage of using birds is that they do not damage the device by knocking it over. Old-school but effective.

GPS impersonators

On a more technological level, we have these devices that interfere with the GPS receiver of the drone to disorient it and make it believe that it is located elsewhere. Specifically, they change the drone’s communication link to a signal that briefly delays the connection between the airborne device and its controller, followed by a stronger signal that cuts it off completely.

Control of the drone reverts to the spoofer and the device could later be returned to its owner in one piece.

Radio Frequency (RF) Jammers

However, when neither nature nor ‘benign’ technology is sufficient to prevent an imminent threat, other devices may be employed.

These devices overwhelm drones by jamming controller signals with their radio wave emissions. Their signal is tuned to the same frequency and modulation as that of the drone. Essentially, they, too, cut off the backhaul communication between the craft and its controller.

RF jammers aim for precision by focusing electromagnetic energy on the drone, to avoid damaging nearby equipment. This method has its drawbacks, as it is very short range and could still cause collateral damage.

As for drones, once attacked by radio waves, they could fly away aimlessly or suffer a crash.
HPM devices

Just like RF devices, these operate on electromagnetic signals. Microwave pulses emitted by HPM devices interfere with drone radio signals. They can go so far as to damage the very components of the machine, depending on the durability of the latter.

Signals from HPM devices are emitted in one direction only, to avoid collateral damage. However, this sometimes couldn’t be avoided, making RF jammers a real tool of last resort (especially considering their high cost).

These are some of the devices that one might find at airports and military bases. Others, more destructive, are mainly used by the armed forces, in order to prevent attacks and ensure the security of the territory.

If you want to learn more or even invest in counter drone technology, Bayanat Engineering has a wide variety of products that might be right for your particular situation.

WASHINGTON: As the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to unfold, the Ukrainian military has piloted a Turkish-made drone that has drawn attention in recent years for its tank-destroying capabilities.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces Facebook page reported that its troops launched Turkish-made TB2 Bayraktars, a medium-sized tactical unmanned aerial vehicle capable of carrying anti-tank missiles, as the Russian military invaded in the early hours of Thursday morning. .

According to Baykar’s website, the TB2 drone can fly up to 138 miles per hour and can carry four smart rounds, or up to 330 pounds. It can also carry an ISR payload. The drone is approximately 39 feet long with a wingspan of 21 feet with an operational altitude of 18,000 feet. He also notably saw real-world action, giving an idea of ​​his abilities and downsides on the battlefield.

For all Breaking Defense coverage on the situation in Ukraine, click here.

The TB2 Bayraktar has been deployed in several conflicts in recent years. The Turkish government has used the system against Syrian and Kurdish forces in the Middle East. It was also used by the Azerbaijani military against Armenian forces in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, where the drone was known for its success in targeting Armenian air defense systems and tanks, equipment in large older part of Russian manufacture. But the result may be different against a more modern army.

“We learned from Nagorno-Karabakh that when countries have the capability to use armed drones on the battlefield and air defenses are less of a concern, drones can play an important role in anti-armour warfare,” said Michael Horowitz, professor. at the University of Pennsylvania.

But while the drone proved useful in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and in Syria, it now faces a far more capable adversary.

Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, recently wrote in an op-ed for Breaking Defense that a conflict between Russia and Ukraine would provide insight into the usefulness of the modern tank on the battlefield, an aspect of land warfare that was questioned by some experts in the aftermath of the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Reuters, citing research from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, reported that Russia has 2,840 main battle tanks.

RELATED: Russia vs. Ukraine Could Provide Invaluable Lessons in What Really Works in Modern Warfare

“It’s different because you have two adversaries who have more sophisticated military than what you had in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Cancian said in an interview. “The Russians, of course, have an army that’s pretty much first-rate.”

Sam Bendett, a Russian military expert who works as an adviser to the CNA think tank, said that “the Russian military has asserted that Bayraktars would not necessarily be a big threat to a force like Russia, due to the radars of Russia’s advanced early warning, advanced electronic warfare capabilities and its layered air defense.

He noted that the successes of the TB2 drones in Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh have clashed with older Soviet-made air defense systems because they fly at low altitudes and are not designed for speed, which makes them more vulnerable to advanced air defense systems. The United States and its allies also provided Ukrainian forces with javelins to defend against Russian tanks.

“So that they could see Bayraktars from afar, they could identify him faster, and they could launch several types of countermeasures against him,” Bendett said.

Russian state media said on Thursday that its army shot down four TB2s, although claims of success in Ukraine on both sides of the conflict are difficult to prove at this stage.

Ukraine purchased six TB2 drones from Turkish drone maker Baykar for $69 million in 2019, according to Defense News, with the first drone delivered to the Ukrainian Navy in July last year. In October, the drone was used against Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region, the first time it has been used by the Ukrainian military in combat. The Ukrainian government has signaled that it wants to buy 24 more TB2 drones and has since agreed with Turkey to co-produce the drone at a facility in Ukraine, Defense News reported.

Over the past few years, according to a 2021 report on Russia’s military by the NAC, Moscow has studied the conflicts in Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh and learned about the challenges drones could pose on the battlefield. Since then, Bendett said, electronic warfare and counter-UAS training have been almost “synonymous.” According to a Washington Post report, the Russian Defense Ministry released photos of an anti-TB2 formation.

“They [the Russian military] are aware that Bayraktar is the most advanced tactical drone used by the Ukrainian military, and they have also learned and practiced how to deal with this threat,” Bendett said.

(September 18, 2022 / JNS) Japan’s Defense Ministry plans to deploy Israeli and American-made attack drones in 2023 to defend remote islands.

The American-made Switchblade and the Harop drone from Israel Aerospace Industries are expected to be deployed.

Both are trailing ammo weapons (also known as suicide drones or kamikaze drones) who passively wait around the target area and attack once a target is located.

The ministry intends to field several hundred attack drones from 2025, including Japanese-made drones, to bolster its deterrence capabilities, reported news from japanciting government sources.

The report notes that the Ukrainian military has used attack drones against Russian forces, achieving substantial results while limiting fatalities.

The government intends to use drones primarily on the Ryukyu Islands (aka the Nansei Islands). He foresees that they will be employed in an emergency to strike at hostile warships approaching islands and enemy forces attempting to land. Drones will also be used for surveillance.

The Harop is about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) long and can fly for nine hours, while the Switchblade is about 36 centimeters (14 inches) long and easy to carry, but can only fly for 15 minutes.

At the launch of the Gujarat Drone Mahotsav which was held on Friday on the grounds of the University of Ahmedabad, while small camouflaged drones with doves in the sky, Amber Dubey, co-secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) highlighted how the now liberalized drone policy will pave the way for the creation of “intellectual property” in this area.

“In today’s world, whoever has the intellectual property (intellectual property) is the one who is powerful… The liberalized rules on drones arrived on August 25 and within three weeks the Cabinet approved the related incentives. in production, that too in the midst of COVID19 when we’re pressed for cash… This process otherwise takes eight-nine months. But in identifying the importance of drones, there is the support of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The government gives 20 percent cashback (on the cost of making the drones)… We keep our check books. Suppose if you were to sell a drone at a cost of Rs 100, with a manufacturing cost of Rs 40, you added a value of Rs 60. 20% of that added value will be returned to you in cash, ”Dubey said.

According to Dubey, last year India recorded a turnover of Rs 60 crore in this sector. The MoCA runs drone awareness programs in various states of India with the aim of educating drone end users such as farmers, students, academics, start-ups, government and private organizations and the drone Mahotsav held in Gujarat was poised not only as a precursor event of the next Vibrant Gujarat scheduled for January 2022, but is also a way to attract investment in this sector as part of the industrial city development project of Dholera.

The event hosted by Pradip Patel, CEO of Prime UAV and sponsored by Dholera Industrial City Development Limited, Adani Defense and Aerospace and Blue Ray Aviation was packed with hobbyist drone enthusiasts, established drone companies as well as start-ups, often seen responding to requests and demonstration requests from visitors to the stalls.

Sethuraj V, co-founder and CTO of Aerosys Aviation, a Noida-based start-up that currently manufactures drones for land surveying and mapping, sees a huge domestic market to fill. As Sethuraj says, their company is in contact with the government of Bihar in light of recent flooding observed in the state and as he explains, Aerosys drones can be used to map an area and predict the pattern of flooding the area through software with 80 Percent Accuracy, which can then be used to establish an evacuation and rescue plan. Other uses of these mapping drones can be for planning construction on a strip of land with centimeter accuracy, for mining, for monitoring tree density in forests and for monitoring it.

As the drone exhibit also demonstrated, the use of drones in agriculture is also a largely untapped market, with the potential to reduce labor costs and time intensity. As an executive from S. Agri Udaan, an Ahmedabad-based company, which delivers drones for spraying insecticides and pesticides, says, an 11-liter payload carrying the insecticide or pesticides can complete the spray job. on 15 acres of farmland within minutes. “With crops such as rice and sugar cane, such mechanisms become particularly effective”, explains the executive.

The drone exhibit, in addition to attracting the interest of students, defense personnel and police, also saw an exhibit from the fire emergency services of Ahmedabad. With a payload consisting of a thermal imaging scanner as well as an optical scanner, protesters said the drone was also used in practice during a 2019 fire at a building in the Gota neighborhood in Ahmedabad, Ganesh Genesis.

Explaining the mechanism, AFES officials said, “Thermal imaging can be done from above as well as from the side of a building through the wall, even 15 feet from the wall. Considering the smoke, the thermal detector would tell us not only the source of the fire, but also if there is movement of people or for that matter the number of people trapped inside.

– PDRL’s AeroGCS software is used by majority of Indian drone manufacturers to achieve NPNT compliance.

NASHIK, India, July 7, 2021 / PRNewswire / – A recent drone blast of an air base has attracted public attention and raised concerns for security forces, individuals as well as entities using airbags. drones for commercial purposes. It is true that the incident caused irreversible damage, and the necessary measures are being taken to avoid future incidents of this nature. Several solutions are being considered to mitigate the risks associated with the misuse of drones. One of these solutions is the strict use of NPNT (No Permission No Take-off) compliance set by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGAC). When the NPNT software solution is used by the drone manufacturer for their drones, its misuse can be completely avoided even if the drones fall into the hands of a notorious third party.

Passenger Drone Research Private Limited (PDRL) is a start-up from the divine city of Nashik and excels in drone technologies and related software solutions. PDRL has locally developed a drone management software called “AeroGCS”. The complete software stack is used by the majority of Indian drone manufacturers to comply with NPNT compliance. The software has the ability to communicate with the drone flight authorization system (Digital Sky platform) set up by the Director General of Civil Aviation. It allows the authorization artifact of flight authorization data to be transported safely from the Digital Sky platform to the drone’s firmware. The software guarantees that the drone only flies with the prior authorization of the Digital Sky platform and only in the authorized geographical area. PDRL’s software stack supports three important aspects of permissions.

1. Fly within the authorized geofence area 2. Fly only up to the authorized altitude and 3. Fly only within the approved and authorized time slot.

If the solution detects a violation of the above rules, the secure drone firmware that is part of the AeroGCS stack ensures that the drone automatically returns safely to the take-off point and all logs are saved for further analysis.

The story continues

The AeroGCS software stack provides the highest level of L1 security for drone flights. The software ensures a secure upgrade of the drone’s firmware using digital certificates using validated digital keys. It is important to note that AeroGCS does not allow modification of any drone airworthiness parameters. In addition to this, the software offers the ability to follow the drone live for the duration of the flight, providing full visibility of the flight to the drone operator.

Majority of Indian drone manufacturers trust AeroGCS for the safety of their drone operations. The AeroGCS software guarantees the drone manufacturer / operator that their drones will only fly within the authorized area, for the authorized duration and at the authorized altitude. This will help protect the country’s critical infrastructure from the risk of drone misuse. AeroGCS ensures that drones are used for the purpose they are made for and science remains a boon to mankind.

“PDRL’s mission is to contribute to the growth of the Indian drone industry over the past three years. AeroGCS is a commercially available drone platform unique to the Indian market with 100% indigenization. AeroGCS is also available in various other editions to support global drone manufacturers and drone service providers through the AeroMegh platform. PDRL is growing globally with its distribution partners spread across all continents, ”said PDRL CEO Mr. Anil Chandaliya.

About Passenger Drone Research Private Limited PDRL is a start-up based in Nasik, Maharashtra. PDRL offers a drone automation and data analytics SaaS platform called AeroMegh for enterprises to generate real-time business data.

With reliable efforts, PDRL has created the most efficient and simple software for the drone industry. The products are ready for the future and meet the needs of the moment and improve according to the future vision. PDRL is committed to ensuring that customers benefit from the latest drone technologies on the market and that drones are used only for legitimate and fruitful purposes.

REP REP

University of Alabama Huntsville nursing student Sara Lin stood on a hillside in northern Alabama on Tuesday morning with nothing in sight but a remote farm. His eyes focused on a cotton field.

A black box-shaped plane appeared behind a row of trees below and headed towards Lin. Helicopter-like blades on each corner quickly revealed that the craft was the drone Lin was looking for.

After a soft landing about 15 feet away, the blades stopped and Lin walked quickly towards the craft. Leaning forward, she opened a cargo drawer, pulled out a soft pack of plasma hidden inside, and turned to an unfolding catastrophe. A large tornado had swept through the area less than an hour earlier, killing one and seriously injuring five in that location alone.

None of this was real, but Azita Amiri, a nursing professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, thinks this type of airlift could be common in disaster areas. That’s why she and other university nursing instructors were here early in the morning to train their nursing students to work with drones.

Efforts to better coordinate drone responses to natural and man-made disasters just won the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH) a three-year, $828,070 grant, the second-largest in a series. a band recently awarded by the Federal Aviation Department of the United States Department of Transportation. Administration (FAA).

UAH will collaborate with Kansas State University, New Mexico State University, University of Vermont, and North Carolina State University. The goal is to put in place procedures to integrate drone operators within federal agencies such as the Department of the Interior and the Department of Homeland Security with local and state disaster preparedness and disaster preparedness agencies. emergency response.

There are some do’s and don’ts for working near drones in the field. Keep your ears and eyes open. Do not approach a drone until it is down with the rotors stopped. Under current rules, the drone pilot must be in sight throughout the drone’s flight path, although this rule may change as camera and tracking technology improves and the distance drones can fly increase.

“If we don’t have blood, we can call an urban center and put blood in a drone,” Amiri said as an example of how drones could help provide emergency care at disaster sites. accidents or disasters. “There are no traffic problems.”

Casey Calamalo is a research engineer at the Center for Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He said the purpose of this experiment could go beyond just responding to disasters. It’s possible drones could be useful in disadvantaged communities without access to medical care, he said.

Amiri works with a small town in Alabama now without a clinic 20 miles away and with only one doctor. “To get treatment, you have to move. And if you don’t have a car or money for gas…. Camalo paused. The thought has come to an end.

“We could combine drone (drug delivery) with telehealth,” Calamalo said. “It would be faster than a car.”

It’s not just a good idea; it’s a matter of “health equity”, say proponents of medical drones. People shouldn’t be denied medical care because of where they live if there is safe and reliable technology that can make a difference.

But FAA rules still govern all things drone flight, and the agency oversees a growing industry that can range from medical drones and other tools to recreational toys. Today, drones cannot fly more than 2 miles from their pilots and must be visible all the way. “We need software to track drones,” Calamalo said.

The current rules are strict. “Not many people know that you still have to apply for permission to fly,” said UAH Aviation Safety Office Steve Warr.

Back at the tornado site, the nursing students give first aid to other students claiming to be injured, and their instructors watch every move.

Sara Lin heads back up the hill to pick up another load of incoming drone support fluids. Again, she must wait until the drone is on the ground and all rotors have stopped.

Asked about the experience later, Lin agreed that drones could be useful in real-life situations like these. And she expects to see more drones – not fewer – in her career.

.

Hawaii may seem like a tropical paradise to many, but its climate and location make it vulnerable to some fast-growing and destructive invasive pests – a reality authorities are now facing as they deploy drones to combat a species of rhinoceros beetle that ravages the emblematic coconut palms of the archipelago. .

Led by researchers from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, drones are flying to perform targeted spraying of coconut trees showing signs of rhinoceros beetle infestation. The non-native pest has no natural predators on the islands and has therefore gone unchecked as it eats a range of plants to death – including betel nut, Pandanus palms, banana, pineapple and sugar cane. Given the economic and simply aesthetic damage inflicted on some of the islands’ characteristic flora, the authorities decided to deploy drones firing insecticides as the insect’s designated enemy.

Growing up to nearly 2.5 inches long, the horned pest resembles a mini-Styracosaurus and is capable of the kind of flight that rightly scares people away when armored creatures strike them in the dark. The coconut rhinoceros beetle uses its horns to latch on to its botanical prey – usually coconuts and palms, but other plants will do so in a pinch – and begins to force its way through the fronds or the leaves to reach the meristem or living nucleus of the plant. Unless discovered and eliminated, the pest will devour the life of its host.

To prevent this from happening, state officials relied on the work of researchers at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa who are testing drones to detect and neutralize coconut rhinoceros beetles in targeted trees.

Although insects can also be identified at the base of attacked trees or damage to fronds, drones have enabled pilots to discover the exact location of rhinoceros beetles high in coconut and palm trees, and to undertake spraying targeted to kill them.

Following a recent trial of the aerial technique at the Hawaii Country Club in Oahu, professor of molecular biosciences and bioengineering Dan Jenkins said using drones to combat the parasite was found to be much more effective. than previous methods of trapping or injecting insecticide into the attacked plants.

“Most of the trees were defoliated enough that we really applied straight into the crown,” said Jenkins, who returned a few days later to see the results. What he found was a large and growing number of dead coconut rhinoceros beetles every day, indicating the increased effectiveness of drones spraying insecticides directly when the creatures were active.

“One observation is that virtually all of the beetles we found were at the base of trees with no other vegetation or long grass at the base, so I think we killed at least double what we could find” , added Jenkins. .

Lily: Darwinian drones rid the Galápagos Islands of invading rats

Data collected from ongoing monitoring of treated trees on the golf course will allow Jenkins and his team to further assess the success of the deployment of drones against coconut rhinos and create models of how the technique can be used on a larger scale in Hawaii.

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By Marcus Uhe and Jonty Ralphsmith

Members of Narre Warren Police and Dandenong Police Station were at Lake Lysterfield on Monday March 14 for a water safety activation event.

They were joined by volunteers from Life Saving Victoria (LSV) who demonstrated the capabilities of their drones to monitor water activities, identify hazards and undertake surveys.

Four people have drowned in Lake Lysterfield since 2007.

The lake appears calm on the surface, but currents and submerged objects below the surface make the lake a potentially dangerous place to swim.

According to LSV, 17 people drowned in Victoria over the summer.

A Life Saving Victoria spokesperson said the activation was organized to provide the community with practical and engaging water safety education and information.

“In Victoria, there is a 68 per cent increase in drownings on public holidays in all aquatic environments, including the coast, swimming pools and inland waterways,” the spokesperson said.

LSV’s aforementioned air fleet, which was showcased at the event, includes eight drones and two helicopters.

Their drone capacity recently increased from two drones to four, allowing rescuers to have an eye on more waterways across the state at once.

The technology means LSV can live stream footage captured by its drones directly into the state control center, as well as automatically identify and monitor potential hazards to oceans and waterways.

“This technology helps us improve the accuracy of our risk forecasting and operational planning for our busiest times, as well as quickly coordinate rescue services in emergency situations, ensuring the safety of people in Victorian waters,” the spokesperson said.

“Aerial support means our rescuers are available to undertake more rescues in remote and hard-to-reach places when people need us most, and helps us get a clearer picture of the condition of patients. as we bring them to safety, allowing us to relay their status to our partner emergency agencies more quickly, for better patient outcomes.

“Over the past few seasons, drones have become a vital addition to LSV’s waterway surveillance capability, with technology expanding the capability of traditional rescue patrols well beyond red and yellow flags, while last season , LSV undertook a record 15 winching rescues of people in distress. using the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter.

Life Saving Victoria’s recommended swimming safety tips include swimming with a friend, actively supervising children and swimming at supervised beaches during patrol times.