Author | Raquel C. Pico

Since their emergence a few years ago, drones have demonstrated their potential in solving various challenges and enabling the development of innovative services. Although they initially sparked interest as novel or entertaining gadgets, it quickly became evident that drones could take on critical and essential roles. Emergency services are one such area where drones play a pivotal role, helping to enhance emergency response management significantly.

What is the drone in a box technology

The potential of drones is immense, matched only by the wide variety of devices available on the market. One of the emerging types is the drone in a box system.

Drone in a box technology streamlines the use of drones by transforming them into fully autonomous systems. The drones operate without the need for a human pilot during takeoff, landing, or any of the intermediate phases of their mission. The terminal autonomously recharges, manages its routes, and returns to its starting point. In essence, the drone in a box is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that departs from its docking station (the “box” referenced in its name) and autonomously returns to it once its designated mission is complete.

This significantly reduces response times. One of the leading companies developing these tools, Citymesh, reports that their drones can reach the location of an emergency call within just 15 minutes. Images are captured on-site, providing emergency services with more detailed and accurate information about the situation. For fire services, for example, this allows them to quickly identify signs of a fire. Their drones in a box systems are now operational in 35 emergency zones across Belgium.

AI to improve autonomy

Similarly, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology into these devices enhances their capabilities and makes them even more autonomous. A drone equipped with AI can go beyond its pre-programmed instructions, performing tasks such as site recognition and interpreting the data it captures in real-time.

Thanks to AI, drones can calculate routes more efficiently and make independent decisions. They can even assist emergency teams in making more efficient and effective decisions. In short, they enhance their capabilities. Some companies are now experimenting with the implementation of AI, unlocking a wide range of new possibilities for drone in a box technology. For instance, Motorola Solutions and Nokia have recently signed an agreement to launch drones in a box that utilize 5G or 4G networks to ensure reliable connectivity and leverage artificial intelligence to dynamically reorganize routes based on real-time conditions. Similarly, the use of AI enables faster decision-making in real time.

Nevertheless, whether equipped with AI or not, the drone in a box technology significantly simplifies emergency management. By eliminating the need for a pilot to be physically near the device, it can cover greater distances and significantly reduce response times. There are already “drone as first responder” programs that deploy drones as scouts to assess situations.

Beyond emergencies, drones in a box have a wide range of other applications. NASA has already integrated drones in a box into space exploration efforts. They are also widely used in military and security operations, play a key role in smart farming by monitoring crops and collecting data for precision agriculture, and assist in managing and safeguarding critical infrastructures, such as energy plants. The energy company Enel has been using drones in a box since 2019 at its solar plant in Totana, Spain, to enhance efficiency in infrastructure maintenance.

The use of drones in emergencies

This further amplifies the potential of drones in emergency scenarios. The most innovative applications of drones in emergencies now include rescuing people and delivering medicines or essential supplies in extreme situations. In hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters, drones can access hard-to-reach areas and assist in rescuing people who may be trapped.

However, their potential as an emergency response technology extends beyond extreme situations. They can also play a role in everyday life, whether in urban environments or in addressing routine health issues. Therefore, they become an integral part of the emergency systems in a smart city, helping to significantly reduce response times in emergencies.

In several cities across the United States, various initiatives have already been launched to address common health emergencies with drones, such as heart attacks or overdoses, as response time is critical in both situations to ensure survival. Drones also enable large areas of territory to be covered, which is particularly important in developing countries and in regions with dispersed populations—a growing challenge in rural areas of Europe and other hard-to-reach locations. This is the case in South Korea’s most remote islands, where residents receive essential provisions delivered by drones.

Photo | Goh Rhy Yan