The TopView researchers, together with colleagues of Sistematica (project coordinator), the Università degli Studi di Firenze – Centro Protezione Civile and with the support of a Delegazione della Protezione Civile Nazionale, conclude the first PATHfinder project Validation Campaign.
With the precious collaboration of:
The tests were held in the beautiful island of Stromboli (Aeolian Islands – Sicily).
Pathfinder: added value in Emergency Management
Mission:
Set up an Independent Communication Infrastructure to provide connectivity in case of emergencies
Master Drone
In this first phase, we used as “Master Drone” a DJI M300 RTK drone without tether, to set up an Independent Communication Infrastructure between COA (Advanced Operations Center – Civil Protection) and “slave drones” for inspection.
Data and images collected were transmitted in real time to the operations centre (COA) allowing an adequate response to the emergency simulation.
“The payload has two directional antennas to implement the link P2P COA – “Master Drone” and the link “Master Drone”- Local Hot Spot Station. It offers on-site the local connectivity to Ground Control Station of drones involved in operations, but also to Tablet devices and Wi-Fi phones of rescuers and operators.The frequencies used to make the links are switchable from 2.4 GHz to 5.8 GHz depending on the distances and electromagnetic environment.“
During the next phases of the project, we will use the MTD – Master Tethered Drone that, thanks to the power, data transmission and constraint cable, will have even more performing performance in terms of flight persistence.
The hangar provides the drone to hover stably for hours and without the need of changing batteries.
The research progress will be tested during the second phase of the Validation Campaign in the beautiful Riserva Naturale del cratere degli Astroni in collaboration with the WWF and with the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia – INGV.
Stay tuned: 
