Partnership Aims to Eliminate the Need for Visual Observers in Emergency Drone Deployments
BRINC, a leading innovator in drone technology for first responders, has announced a strategic partnership with Echodyne, a company known for its advanced ground-based radar systems. This collaboration aims to integrate Echodyne’s cutting-edge MESA® radar technology into BRINC’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) solution. The partnership is expected to pave the way for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations without the need for visual observers, thereby enhancing airspace awareness, safety, and accessibility for public safety agencies.
Addressing the Challenges of Drone Deployment
Drone as First Responder (DFR) systems have become crucial in reducing emergency response times and aiding decision-making processes for first responders. However, current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require an onsite visual observer to monitor drone flights. This requirement limits the flexibility and operating hours of drone operations during emergencies. Additionally, it places a staffing burden on public safety agencies that are already grappling with personnel shortages. According to the Police Executive Research Forum’s 2023 study, police resignations have surged over the past four years, while the number of sworn officers has decreased by 5%.
To effectively implement DFR, drones must operate over extended ranges and in challenging environments, including areas with obstructed views and adverse weather conditions. BVLOS waivers are essential for expanding these capabilities. The integration of Echodyne’s radar technology is expected to meet the FAA’s stringent requirements for BVLOS operations, offering a safer and more reliable solution.
Enhancing Airspace Awareness and Safety
“By combining BRINC’s drone technology with Echodyne’s advanced radar, we are creating a safe, robust, and reliable solution for first responders to deploy 911 response drones autonomously to emergencies,” said Blake Resnick, CEO of BRINC.
Echodyne’s radar systems continuously monitor and provide real-time data on the surrounding environment, including the presence of other aircraft, obstacles, and sudden changes. This technology has been tested and proven in various UAS centers of excellence, as well as in FAA and NASA testing programs.
“Echodyne radars have been used for years by UAS centers of excellence, as well as FAA and NASA testing programs,” said Eben Frankenberg, CEO of Echodyne. “DFR represents a unique opportunity to introduce widescale BVLOS operations, and radars are the ideal sensor to provide detailed and accurate airspace situational awareness.”
Streamlining Operations with Integrated Solutions
As part of BRINC’s comprehensive DFR offering, Echodyne’s radar technology will be integrated with BRINC’s LiveOps platform. This integration will allow agencies to view drone operations, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, airspace advisories, weather conditions, and radar data in one comprehensive view. The Echodyne radar will also enable automated LiveOps triggers, alerting pilots to potential hazards and enabling the automatic grounding or rerouting of drones to avoid air traffic.
“It’s exciting to partner with BRINC and see Echodyne radar used in new ways. Our radar is trusted for the precision and reliability required to support military operations and we’re thrilled to see it used for critical infrastructure protection and now to enhance public safety DFR initiatives,” says David Lewin, Critical Infrastructure RSM at Echodyne and Senior Advisor at the Advanced Air Mobility Institute.
“Staffing is always critical at any agency,” says Don Redmond, VP of Advanced Public Safety Projects at BRINC. Redmond is a retired police captain from Chula Vista, the first public safety agency in the nation to adopt Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology. “Putting people on rooftops is always challenging. If we can remove the need for that visual observer, and enable agencies to implement this technology safely and easily, that makes DFR available and scalable for all agencies.”
To make this advanced technology more accessible, BRINC offers public safety agencies the option to spread the costs over multi-year contracts. This financial flexibility lowers the barrier to entry for agencies looking to implement or expand their DFR programs.
For more information on BRINC’s DFR ecosystem, visit BRINC Drones. To learn more about Echodyne’s radar solutions, visit Echodyne.
About BRINC
BRINC is an American developer of advanced technology for public safety. The company offers a connected ecosystem of tools designed to save lives, with over 500 public safety agencies and more than 10% of SWAT teams in the U.S. utilizing its products. BRINC is vertically integrated, manufacturing its products in the U.S., and controlling its entire supply chain. The company is supported by top investors, including Sam Altman, Index Ventures, and others.
About Echodyne
Echodyne, a U.S.-based radar platform company, designs and manufactures advanced radar solutions for defense, government, and commercial applications. The company’s proprietary MESA® technology represents a breakthrough in radar engineering, offering superior performance, data integrity, and situational awareness at a lower cost. Echodyne is privately held and backed by prominent investors including Bill Gates and Northrop Grumman.
