How do On The Man Drones work?

What are On The Man drones?

On the man drones are military grade aircrafts without a pilot. They are controlled from the ground and are used for a wide range of activities including targeting, surveillance, mapping and distraction – in the interests of public safety.

They are small, lightweight and portable aircrafts that do not require an extensive supporting infrastructure in which to get the data from. They are functional and immediate to fit the time-conscious needs of this type of use. By adopting drone technology, emergency and military responders can benefit from improved efficiency, heightened security and increased safety.

What are the main uses for On The Man drones?

When used within a defence situation, the possibilities of using drones for public safety are extensive. Here we list few of the most common uses for one the man drones in this type of environment:

Drones for recce (reconnaissance)

In the interests of public safety, on the man drones can be used to scout out unknown environments that could be too dangerous for humans to venture. The drones will gather data and reconnaissance information about the area, bringing it back to be analysed and used for tactical operations.

The drone’s capability allows it to not only build a geographically accurate map, but also a semantic one. The intelligent onboard computer recognises roads, cars, buildings and other objects and identifies them on the map. When the drone’s mission is completed, it can provide clickable images, which can be downloaded and evaluated

Drones for mapping and surveying

Regarding mapping and surveying, drones are quick, safe and accurate for deployment in a first-eyes-on-the-ground scenario. They can cover a wide area range within a limited amount of time, providing data that can be processed within minutes.

With repeatability, which is often needed in the military, they are fast and efficient. Teams can make regular surveys, hourly, daily or weekly to make comparisons and re-address the situation on a real-time basis.

Leading photogrammetry software such as Pix4D Mapper can be used easily to collect survey-grade data and create 4D models with basic training and very little technological ability

Drones for military command operations

Depending on the mission, on the man drones may be tasked with supplying tactical information about the immediate area during a military command operation. Essentially, this allows teams on the ground to make better and faster decisions, which could be vital when facing enemy forces.

The sensor equipment, the areas flown over, the communication links and control of the airspace in which they are operating will all vary depending on the operation. On the man drones can be used for real-time planning, information dissemination, commander’s attack view and ultimately for making precise and well-informed decisions.

Drones for distraction 

Distraction payloads are very lightweight aircrafts, which aid as additional tools to help during military operations. Set with a timer by an operator, these payloads emit loud sounds up to 169 decibels, with low flash and low fragmentation, acting as a distraction technique as teams enter a specific room or building.

As well as aiding as a distraction tool, this type of on the man drone can also act as an attraction tool – to gain attention on the ground when needed.

The Typhon DS-100 is designed for military or police use for tactical operations. It integrates seamlessly with the Sky Hero Loki 2 or the Parrot ANAFI USA. Typhon is primarily designed for military, professional public security and offender management markets. Applications include covert operations, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, close protection, aviation and maritime.

You can see the Typhon DS-100 in action here:

Drones for search & rescue

On the man drones are ideal for use by the emergency services as a search and rescue tool. Police, firefighters and volunteer rescue teams can use these unmanned aircrafts to search for missing persons or victims of crime in need of rescue. They can also be used, instead of dangerous helicopter missions, as an eye from the sky to locate a person lost on a mountain, or at sea, for example.

In the search for missing persons, infrared (IR) thermal imaging cameras can detect human body heat. This capability greatly increases the ability to find people or objects at night that may be hidden, as well as during daytime operations too.

Drones for accidents & disasters

On the man drones can also provide real-time visual information when a disaster or incident threatens the lives of those around it. During such incidents, emergency responders need such real-time information to be able to make better decisions faster so that lives can potentially be saved.

Natural and man-made disasters such as fires, floods and chemical spills often make conditions too difficult for relief workers to provide immediate assistance. Therefore, drones can provide awareness over a vast area of dangerous terrain in quick time, reducing the size of the rescue team needed to respond.

Such drones can be used to map disaster areas, providing greater advantages in both cost and response times when compared to traditional methods. They can be deployed quickly, generating high-resolution and 3D mapping, identifying hotspot areas that have sustained the most damage. The data can be uploaded in real time to coordinate relief effor