The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Humanitarian Reconnaissance Drone.
Courtesy of UNITAR/Jean-Marc Ferré
Dr. Bryan L Mesmer, associate professor and researcher at the University of Alabama at Huntsville College of Engineering, will team up with academics, other researchers and graduate students in science and technology from four countries on a $1.26 million project supported by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Science for Peace and Security (SPS) program to develop pioneering disaster relief solutions using multi-agent drone systems.
The NATO program includes a competition in which student teams tackle technical challenges such as mitigating GPS signal interference, successfully navigating hazardous environments, improving real-time decision-making and fault tolerance for vehicles, and ensuring effective communication and coordination between UAVs. The project seeks to increase the level of autonomy of single and cooperative drone platforms by adopting and developing the most advanced AI-based algorithms and technologies.
Universities collaborating with UAH, part of the University of Alabama system, include City University London (NATO’s partner director for this program), the University of Klagenfurt in Austria, and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
“Drone technology has the potential to play a significant role in crisis management and civil emergencies,” Mesmer notes. “Drone technology has advanced significantly in recent years and has been adopted by various organizations and governments for various purposes, including disaster response.”
How drone technology works for disaster relief
Drones can provide real-time imagery and data of disaster-affected areas, allowing first responders to quickly and efficiently assess the situation and prioritize civil emergency activities, typically involving searching for survivors, assessing damage and providing aid to the affected areas.
Dr. Bryan L Mesmer, Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (ISEEM) at the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH).
“For example, drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can quickly scan large areas for signs of life, even in areas where visibility is limited, such as during a hurricane or after an earthquake,” Mesmer points out. “This information can be invaluable to first responders who need to quickly identify areas that need emergency assistance. The adoption of multiple UAVs in disaster response has the potential to greatly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of crisis management efforts.
Indeed, a fleet of drones can be deployed in a coordinated manner to gather information, survey damaged areas, provide aid and perform other essential tasks with improved coverage and speed, especially valuable in disaster scenarios where rapid action is required. Equipped with various sensors and instruments, one drone can be equipped with a thermal imaging camera to search for survivors, while another can provide a high-resolution camera to survey the damage. A multi-UAV system also reduces the risk to human life in unstable or hazardous conditions.
“In addition, a multi-UAV system can improve coordination and communication between first responders,” Mesmer notes. “With multiple drones gathering information and transmitting data in real time, response teams can quickly and efficiently coordinate their efforts and make informed decisions. This can greatly improve the speed and efficiency of disaster response efforts.”
The project came about thanks to previous connections forged in collaboration with UAH College of Science Dean Dr. Rainer Steinwand. “The SPS program wanted to start this new collaboration and include a US institution that has expertise in unmanned aerial systems (UAS),” explains Dr. Mesmer. “Thanks to previous research that Dr. Steinwand has conducted with the SPS program and research that I and others are conducting on artificial intelligence systems with the military, UAH was identified as an ideal candidate for collaboration.”
The SPS program promotes dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO member states and partner countries based on scientific research, technological innovation and knowledge exchange. The initiative offers funding, expertise and support for civilian security-related activities that align with NATO’s strategic objectives. For more information, visit the SPS program.
