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Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
First responders often operate in environments that are dangerous and difficult to navigate. The Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) portfolio executes prize challenges that incentivize industry and researchers to develop drone technology to assist first responders in these situations. Through these prize challenges, PSCR drives innovation to improve the tools critical to search and rescue (SAR) operations, situational awareness, and more.
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Portfolio Mission:
To advance the capabilities of uncrewed aircraft systems and provide safe, effective, and reliable solutions to first responder in their crucial missions by conducting cutting-edge research for emergency response operations.
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Portfolio Vision:
To lead the innovation of uncrewed aircraft system technology that supports public safety efforts in disasters or emergency situations with degraded or destroyed communications infrastructure.
Featured Project
There are numerous situations where public safety personnel need information from ground sensors where there is little to no existing communications infrastructure, insufficient power to access satellites, and challenging radio environments for low bandwidth or high latency. In such environments, first responders could benefit from aerial drones capable of collecting up-to-date information from these ground sensors, including data transmitted over radio and visual imagery which is conveyed to a mission commander and kept up to date throughout a response. The next competition, the First Responder UAS Wireless Data Gatherer Challenge (UAS 6.0), fosters the development of UAS solutions that can autonomously survey and inspect designated ground sensors within specific geographic limits, providing data that could help mission commanders plan early and ongoing phases of a response, detect changes as early as possible, and improve overall safety.
Learn More About the 2024 First Responder Wireless Data Gatherer Challenge
In addition, as UAS for current and upcoming public safety applications rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and increasing levels of connectivity, the rapid pace of development has outstripped society’s ability to fully understand and manage the unique, novel risks associated with these technologies. In response, the UAS portfolio is leading a project to improve the overall level of cybersecurity and AI risk management (CSAIRM) within the UAS ecosystem to inform and support public safety UAS programs.
Learn About Our Ongoing Project on Cybersecurity and AI Risk Management (CSAIRM)
Extramural Research
- 2018 Unmanned Aerial Systems Flight and Payload Challenge
- 2020 First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge
- 2021 First Responder UAS Triple Challenge
- 2022 First Responder UAS Indoor Challenge
- 2023 First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge
- 2024 First Responder Wireless Data Gatherer Challenge
Quick Resources
- UAS Program Challenge Overview
- UAS Cybersecurity and AI Risk Management (CSAIRM) Reading List
- Webinar Recording: UAS Triple Challenge: Drones for First Responders
- Webinar Recording: The History & Future of the PSCR Drone Program
Related Content
- How NIST's drone research helps public safety
- Drone competition advancing technology to assist first responders
- University of Maryland students using drones to help fire crews
- Advancing Indoor Safety for First Responders: UAS 4.0 Indoor Challenge
- ‘Gambit’ Pays Off in UMD Team’s Search-and-Rescue Competition Win
- Purdue startup gains traction with drone tech
- It Takes a (Worldwide) Village to Improve Drone Technology for First Responders
- NIST Prize Challenge Launched Research for Unmanned Aircraft in Search and Rescue
- NIST Announces Top 4 Winners in the National First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge
- Flying Drones Compete to Complete Unprecedented Feat
- Survey of Drone Usage in Public Safety Agencies
- The Last Drone Standing: First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge
- Supporting Mobile Public Safety Broadband Using Drone-Borne Networks
- NIST, Engineering Laboratory/Intelligent Systems Division/Aerial Systems
- 2024 IEEE-RAS Response Robotics Seasonal School and Workshop
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