German researchers have developed a drone capable of detecting human cries. This system could assist rescue operations to locate victims trapped under rubble.
You will also be interested
[EN VIDÉO] An emergency medical drone to save lives Rwanda is one of the most rugged countries in Africa. Getting around quickly is difficult, especially when it comes to delivering medical supplies. Faced with the absence of a road, the best solution is certainly to go by air. This is why the Zipline company offers a drone delivery service. Here it is presented in video.
Drones have become indispensable for the operations of rescue, allowing you to quickly monitor the terrain from the airs. Some are even equipped with infrared cameras to be able to detect the heat issued by victims. Researchers from l’institut Fraunhofer FKIE have developed a new approach to identify the cries of people in distress.
The drone is equipped with a set of microphones, distributed in such a way as to be able to use the beamforming to determine the direction of the sound. They are the same type as those for smartphones and hearing aids, in order to limit the size and weight of the equipment. Researchers also plan to add a microphone electrostatic with a spectre wider sound. This will improve the detection and classification of sounds, and will capture noises several hundred meters away.
Field experiment using the drone-mounted Mems system to hear inpulsive sounds produced by a potential victim. © Acoustical Society of America
An AI to identify the sounds of victims
Researchers checked in by calling for help and tapping on objects like someone trapped under rubble might. The drone uses artificial intelligence, trained with these recordings, to distinguish screams and other noises from people in distress. The AI also filters out ambient sounds, including the roar of its own engines.
In an interview with Washington Post, the researchers indicated that they do not intend to commercialize this drone themselves, but have already been addressed by several organizations that would be interested in a partnership.
Interested in what you just read?
