A new command vehicle will allow drone pilots with the Hamilton County Unmanned Aerial Systems Team to function from multiple workstations in a controlled environment.
The vehicle is designed to provide internet capabilities necessary to operate all equipment and software and is powered by an onboard inverter system that provides self-sustaining power.
The Hamilton County UAS Team is made up of personnel from the office of the Hamilton County Sheriff and Hamilton County Emergency Management.
The vehicle represents a combined capital investment of over $168,000 between both the HCSO and HCEMA.
“Since its implementation in 2016, the Hamilton County UAS Team has proven to be an invaluable asset,” says Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett. “This new command vehicle represents a significant investment in our county’s UAS capabilities and furthers our commitment to using drone technology to respond more quickly to a variety of incidents and threats. This is especially important in search and rescue operations when time is critical.”
Local terrain often forces UAS pilots to work with decreased or intermittent signal strength. The new UCV is equipped with a 15-foot mast, which improves connectivity with aircraft and allows pilots to send drones further than before, Hamilton County UAS says in a news release.
The UCV is equipped with a large viewing station at the rear of the vehicle for administrators to observe live footage of missions. Additionally, the command center will allow pilots to operate in a safer, distraction-free environment.
“This new technology will allow the drone team to provide advanced aerial search along with other improved safety-related services,” says Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Adams.
The UCV allows viewing of current and past video, streaming live video and processing imagery on-scene while continuing ongoing missions.
The call volume for the UAS Team has increased year to year since the squad was launched. In 2022, the UAS Team has piloted over 668 missions, traveled approximately 475 miles and spent over 106 hours in the air.
These operations have included 56 search and rescue missions, 14 crime scene investigations, 13 mapping flights, 25 tactical support trips, 23 felony apprehensions and support for other agencies 86 times.
The majority of the team’s missions involve looking for dangerous suspects, missing or lost individuals, and mapping incident scenes, notes the news release.
Source: Hamilton County UAS Team