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- Dec 2, 2015
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The non profit Swiss rescue service Rega has developed a drone for mountain rescue. It should be operational for deployment in the Spring of 2020.
Rega drone with 2 meter rotor
"The small drone is equipped with infrared and daylight cameras, as well as a mobile phone tracking function, which can spot a phone within an uninhabited area from hundreds of metres away – and therefore usually its owner.
Meanwhile, software developed together with university ETH Zurich transfers the pixel pattern of collected images and relays information on any presumed humans back to the operator on the ground.
The software incorporates a machine-learning algorithm, so it will become more accurate over time. Rega, a private non-profit company, developed the drone after failing to find a suitable solution already on the market."
https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/11/rega-autonomous-rescue-drone/#disqus_thread
I've had a Rega membership a few years. The first time I went to Switzerland, the rescue situation was so confusing for insurance and payment I started looking around. That's when I came across Rega. I think it was under 30 Euros for a year membership. Seemed like a no brainer even though I wasn't sure what they were. A private, non profit rescue service? Huh.
I think on the plane over I started reading the fine print and discovered the area of Switzerland I was going wasn't covered by them. Oh well! You could still call them if needed, and they'd coordinate with those with jurisdiction.
I've kept up the membership anyway because they seem a top notch organization and very forward looking. They'd already developed a rescue app that will send your location to them. It also sends battery level info, and language spoken. If signal is poor, it will establish contact via sms. There's also a test feature to see if it works without initiating recue contact. (Only available from the Swiss App store. If you're on vacation there and go through a few hoops, you could get it.)
This year they've added a feature to automatically send your location every so often. So if rescue is needed outside of reception, there's at least a last known position. This can also be relayed to friends. There's also a feature for patrons that will monitor location. If movement stops for a certain amount of time, your specified contacts are notified to check on you. If necessary, they can then contact rescue with the link.
If you're a Swiss citizen, they'll repatriate you for medical emergencies from anywhere in the world. Quite the benefit!
Here's how they describe themselves.
"Rega acts according to medical necessity and in the service of its patients. It is a privately run, non-profit foundation, which operates independently of the State or of financial interests. Rega's task is to rescue, not to pass judgement on right or wrong, guilt or innocence.
Rega is supported and funded by its patrons. In grateful acknowledgement of this support, Rega can waive the costs of rescue missions carried out on patrons’ behalf, in the event that insurance companies or any other third party are not liable to pay and thus not required to reimburse the costs of the rescue operation, whether wholly or in part."
https://www.rega.ch/en/about-us.aspx
Rega:
https://www.rega.ch/en/home.aspx
Read Riga's published story of the drone in their newsletter. Pg 10:
https://issuu.com/rega/docs/jahresbericht_2018_en/1?ff&e=2171551/69090861
Rega drone with 2 meter rotor
"The small drone is equipped with infrared and daylight cameras, as well as a mobile phone tracking function, which can spot a phone within an uninhabited area from hundreds of metres away – and therefore usually its owner.
Meanwhile, software developed together with university ETH Zurich transfers the pixel pattern of collected images and relays information on any presumed humans back to the operator on the ground.
The software incorporates a machine-learning algorithm, so it will become more accurate over time. Rega, a private non-profit company, developed the drone after failing to find a suitable solution already on the market."
https://www.dezeen.com/2019/05/11/rega-autonomous-rescue-drone/#disqus_thread
I've had a Rega membership a few years. The first time I went to Switzerland, the rescue situation was so confusing for insurance and payment I started looking around. That's when I came across Rega. I think it was under 30 Euros for a year membership. Seemed like a no brainer even though I wasn't sure what they were. A private, non profit rescue service? Huh.
I think on the plane over I started reading the fine print and discovered the area of Switzerland I was going wasn't covered by them. Oh well! You could still call them if needed, and they'd coordinate with those with jurisdiction.
I've kept up the membership anyway because they seem a top notch organization and very forward looking. They'd already developed a rescue app that will send your location to them. It also sends battery level info, and language spoken. If signal is poor, it will establish contact via sms. There's also a test feature to see if it works without initiating recue contact. (Only available from the Swiss App store. If you're on vacation there and go through a few hoops, you could get it.)
This year they've added a feature to automatically send your location every so often. So if rescue is needed outside of reception, there's at least a last known position. This can also be relayed to friends. There's also a feature for patrons that will monitor location. If movement stops for a certain amount of time, your specified contacts are notified to check on you. If necessary, they can then contact rescue with the link.
If you're a Swiss citizen, they'll repatriate you for medical emergencies from anywhere in the world. Quite the benefit!
Here's how they describe themselves.
"Rega acts according to medical necessity and in the service of its patients. It is a privately run, non-profit foundation, which operates independently of the State or of financial interests. Rega's task is to rescue, not to pass judgement on right or wrong, guilt or innocence.
Rega is supported and funded by its patrons. In grateful acknowledgement of this support, Rega can waive the costs of rescue missions carried out on patrons’ behalf, in the event that insurance companies or any other third party are not liable to pay and thus not required to reimburse the costs of the rescue operation, whether wholly or in part."
https://www.rega.ch/en/about-us.aspx
Rega:
https://www.rega.ch/en/home.aspx
Read Riga's published story of the drone in their newsletter. Pg 10:
https://issuu.com/rega/docs/jahresbericht_2018_en/1?ff&e=2171551/69090861
