Worcester Polytechnic Develops Bat-Inspired Drones for Challenging Search and Rescue Missions

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) are developing tiny, bat-inspired drones capable of echolocation to assist in search and rescue missions under challenging conditions such as darkness, smoke, or storms. Led by assistant professor Nitin Sanket and supported by a National Science Foundation grant, these small, energy-efficient drones aim to operate where traditional drones cannot, addressing urgent needs during disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis when power outages occur at night. Recent successful uses of drones in emergency scenarios include locating stranded people during floods in Pakistan and rescuing a man trapped behind a waterfall in California. The next frontier involves creating autonomous drone swarms that can independently decide search patterns, a capability currently rare, as highlighted by Ryan Williams of Virginia Tech. Williams' research includes programming drones to collaborate with human searchers by using historical data to predict behaviors and improve search efficiency. This innovative approach could revolutionize nighttime and adverse-condition rescue operations by enhancing drone deployment beyond manual control.