Drone-borne Radar Tech Deployed in Wayanad Rescue Ops: How Does It Work, What Are Its Uses? – News18

As rescuers push through harsh conditions to search for survivors trapped in collapsed buildings following a devastating landslide this week in Kerala’s mountainous Wayanad district, time is of the essence. More than 300 people have been killed and around as many are reportedly missing.

Rescue operations, which entered the fourth day on Friday, further widened and also included a drone-based radar to find the survivors.

Advancement of drone tech

The advancement in drone technology allows for flights at low altitudes, especially at 120 metres above ground, enabling arbitrary and precise flight trajectories with minimal preparation time for surveying areas of approximately 40 hectares per flight.

The covered area is constrained by drone endurance, which has been steadily increasing over the years.

Phased-array radar

Phased-array radars have inherent advantages over traditional mechanical radar systems. They utilise electronically steered antenna systems that can switch beams rapidly across various directions without the need for physical antenna movement. This translates to faster scanning times and superior tracking accuracy.

Taking this technology further, reconfigurable phased-array radars can dynamically adjust their beam shapes and frequencies, boosting overall flexibility in detecting and pinpointing a wide range of targets.

For surveillance, monitoring

By mounting such radar systems on drones, authorities can, for instance, deploy powerful surveillance platforms at key locations or dispatch them to specific areas.

The drones could provide persistent aerial monitoring, transmitting real-time radar data back to command centres.

This capability also offers enormous potential for border surveillance, tracking enemy activity, and supporting tactical operations in complex environments.

(With agency inputs)