BRK drone day at the THI: Innovation for civil protection

The conference was opened by Prof Dr Hans-Joachim Hof (Vice President of the THI), BRK regional physician Dr Florian Meier and Tanja Herbst from the city of Ingolstadt. 

Afterwards, a varied specialist programme awaited the participants, moderated by Dr Felix Böhringer (BRK). Among the topics discussed were AI-supported search methods, new UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) systems and the use of cargo drones in challenging environments.

Whether in alpine terrain, in major emergencies or in areas that are difficult to access: The use of drones in civil defence offers enormous potential. The technologies on show - from AI-supported image analysis to automated situational awareness - illustrated how modern systems can relieve the burden on emergency services and save lives.

The highlight was an indoor demonstration of autonomous swarm systems for search-and-rescue operations, organised and carried out under the direction of Prof. Elsbacher. 

The simulated missions impressively demonstrated how autonomous swarms of drones can help to locate missing persons more quickly and efficiently in the future.

In addition to the technical content, interdisciplinary dialogue was also a key component of the Drone Day. Participants took the opportunity to engage in dialogue across organisations, share experiences and discuss common challenges. There was a consensus that effective cooperation, harmonised standards and practical research are crucial for the successful use of new technologies.

The BRK Drone Day at the THI made it clear that unmanned flight systems have become an integral part of future-proof emergency response.

At the same time, the event emphasised the value of close cooperation between research, practice and public institutions.