Challenges Arising in a Multi-Drone System for Search and Rescue

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been shown to effectively support search and rescue (SAR) operations, usually through manual control of each UAV. Research has started to move towards multi-drone systems with increasing levels of autonomy to support faster and more challenging SAR operations. However, how such a system should be implemented into the SAR procedures remains an open challenge. We seek to thoroughly understand the issues that arise with drone usage in SAR and how semi-autonomous multi-drone systems can help alleviate those. We conducted a pilot study with emergency services SAR pilots and our multi-drone control prototype. Initial findings have given insights into useful features and potential pitfalls in designing a multi-drone system. The results inform our continued work toward more refined prototypes that will serve as a platform for search and rescue operations.