Rescue drones chart interiors of Italian volcanoes
Last Updated: 25/07/2023 06:41 Created at: 25/07/2023 06:41
Interconnected drones have been despatched into volcanic territory to test their use for civil protection, to help guide responses to natural disasters using novel PNT technology. The project, named Pathfinder, is supported through ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme, NAVISP. Two test campaigns have been undertaken to date, around the active Stromboli Island volcano and within the Astroni Nature Reserve, a volcanic crater near Naples.
In response to disaster events, the Pathfinder fleet management system prototype combines satnav-based position, navigation, and timing, PNT, with communication technologies to enable situational awareness of rescue teams, personnel, and assets. The drones serve to monitor rapidly-evolving situations and guide the collection of critical samples – such as material expelled by volcanos.
Their presence also facilitates crucial tasks such as identifying individuals in distress and expediting rescue efforts. For maximum effectiveness during times of crisis, the coordinated use of airborne drones is combined with ground rovers and underwater vehicles where required.
With the support of NAVISP, the Pathfinder system’s inaugural trial took place in and around Mount Stromboli in Italy’s Tyrrhenian Sea in September 2022. This complex landscape, influenced by volcanism, seismicity, slope instability, and the potential for tsunamis made it an ideal choice for the initial demonstration campaign. The primary focus of this campaign was the verification and validation of overall end-to-end system functionality.
Various drones were deployed to monitor the area and provide insightful analysis of the recorded events. Among the objectives, underpinned by bespoke robust PNT solutions, the campaign aimed to overcome challenges such as establishing an independent communication infrastructure in situations where the existing one proved unreliable. Additionally, it explored the implementation of real-time and near-real-time video monitoring and surveillance systems to enhance context and situational awareness.
In addition, a second test campaign took place a few weeks ago in the Astroni crater near Naples, providing an opportunity to explore alternative use cases for the system, such as monitoring local flora and fauna during emergency situations. A master tethered drone oversaw additional drones tasked with charting the position of animals in the 247-hectare Astroni crater, which is a WWF-recognised nature reserve, part of the volcanic Phlegraean Fields west of Naples.
Considering the high probability of communication infrastructure being disrupted during a disaster, Pathfinder’s tethered master drone serves as a reliable and independent communication hub, enabling situational awareness beyond the visual line of sight. This independent setup ensures continuous and reliable positioning and communication even in situations where traditional infrastructure would be compromised.
For more information, please read the full ESA article here