How Drone Technology is Saving Lives

I’m a firm believer that technology is becoming the bridge to safer operations at emergency scenes. I created this video to show the importance of high resolution #Thermal Imaging on a drone. Especially for #HazMat incidents. In the video you will see side by side views from the Skydio X10 of an above ground fuel container where the floating roof failed and sank into 4 Million gallons of gasoline during Hurricane Milton. The gasoline, exposed to the sun and air, began to vaporize. Looking at the side by side videos (both shot at the same time) the visible light camera is unable to see the vapors being produced however the thermal imaging camera on the drone can. The temperature differences between the vapor and the air is very minimal however the radiometric thermal camera on the drone can see even the slightest changes in temperature. This info is extremely valuable to the decision makers as we are able to see the height of the vapors and direction of travel all from a safety of our command post. #dronesforgood #uas #technology #thermalimagery

The wildfires in Los Angeles have been devastating—homes lost, lives upended, and communities left reeling. It’s made me think: How can we use the incredible technology in defense to make a real difference when disasters strike? Like disaster response, defense tech thrives under pressure—missions demand speed, precision, and adaptability. Here are a few ways I see defense innovations playing a bigger role in protecting lives and communities: - Advanced Drones: These aren’t just for reconnaissance. Firefighters could use them to map wildfires in real time, monitor how they spread, and even guide evacuations. Drones with thermal imaging could cut through heavy smoke, giving responders the visibility they desperately need. - AI and Predictive Analytics: Security professionals already use AI to predict enemy movements. That same tech could be used to analyze weather, terrain, and vegetation to predict how a fire will behave, potentially changing the game for planning and containment efforts. - Communication Systems: Satellite communications and encrypted data transmission allow for real-time coordination among rescue teams, faster dissemination of critical information to affected populations, and more efficient management of relief efforts. This isn’t just about technology—it’s about leadership. Companies building defense tech have an incredible opportunity to step up and work directly with emergency services. How can we make sure defense tech companies and disaster management teams collaborate more effectively? What incentives could help drive innovation that serves both national security and public safety? The tools, talent, and technology already exist—we just need to make the connections. The next time disaster strikes, let’s make sure we’re ready to respond with everything we’ve got, not just as technologists, but as people who care deeply about protecting our communities.

AI that flies fighter jets without GPS, radio, or human control! In 2015, a tragic Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan changed military technology forever. Brandon Tseng's unit suffered serious casualties, clearing a hostile building due to poor reconnaissance (gathering information about an area, especially in military operations). This experience led Brandon, his brother Ryan Tseng 🇺🇸, and autonomy expert Andrew Reiter to found Shield AI. Ryan brought crucial experience from founding WiPower whose breakthrough resonant wireless charging technology enabled devices to charge without precise alignment - now used in Samsung Electronics, Intel Corporation, and Verizon products. In 2010, Qualcomm acquired WiPower. Ryan spent 3 years scaling the technology globally and integrating it into Qualcomm's product ecosystem. Dr. Andrew Reiter, with a PhD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University & experience building autonomous systems at Lockheed Martin, provided the technical foundation. His expertise became crucial for developing their AI pilot. Their breakthrough, Hivemind, is an AI pilot that operates in environments where traditional technologies fail. Using advanced computer vision, it: - Navigates without GPS or communications - Processes battlefield data in real-time - Makes tactical decisions like identifying potential threats in milliseconds - Operates in complete radio silence - Performs 3x faster than human pilots in complex maneuvers such as high-speed terrain following (flying low & fast following ground contours) Shield AI's V-BAT, a vertical takeoff & landing drone with 8+ hours of endurance and 200-mile range, became their proving ground. In Ukraine, V-BAT Teams demonstrated: - 4 aircraft simultaneously controlled by one operator - 98% mission completion rate in heavy electronic warfare - Operations in complete GPS/radio denial - Real-time threat avoidance and target tracking - 23 successful combat deployments Their first product, Nova Drone (2015), conducted over 10,000 autonomous missions! By 2023, Hivemind had advanced to control fighter-scale aircraft like the Kratos MQM-178 Firejet, flying complex combat maneuvers autonomously. The defense industry's response was unprecedented: - $500M+ in defense contracts (US Air Force, Navy) - $225M Series E funding led by Andreessen Horowitz - $2.8B valuation (December 2023) - Team growth to 500+, including 200 AI engineers - Navy SEAL Foundation Patriot Award for saving lives in combat - Forbes "America's Most Promising AI Companies" recognition Shield AI's AI pilot has: - Reduced reconnaissance casualties by 85% - Decreased mission planning time by 75% - Enabled operations in previously inaccessible areas - Demonstrated superiority in electronic warfare conditions This isn't just innovation; it's evolution in protecting human life. Was this inspiring? 🔁 Repost if it was. 💻 Follow #AIwithAnurupa to stay updated with everything AI. #defense #AI #innovation #technology

I've worked in the robotics space for 17+ years. Over those years, I've often seen how robots could be used to keep people from being injured in dangerous tasks (which is amazing); but it wasn't until I came to Boston Dynamics that I was able to see scenarios where a robot actually protected or saved the lives of people. The feeling that you get to see robots impact peoples lives so positively, allowing them to safely come home to their families each night, is beyond inspirational. With our public safety clients around the globe, we tend to see #Spot being used to deescalate or inspect dangerous scenarios on a weekly basis. In the last 2 weeks, here are a few example of how Spot was used to keep officers safe and out of harms way. - Spot used by Houston Police Department to search the Church for explosives and other threats after the tragic shooting at Lakewood Church - https://lnkd.in/gy-56cdn - Lee County Sheriff's Office used Spot to help deescalate a bank robbery/hostage scenario - https://lnkd.in/g8RVK62S - Massachusetts State Police used Spot to assist in a barricaded suspect response - https://lnkd.in/ggbV_nJs It is extremely sad to see these events take place, but I'm proud to see how robotics technology can be used to keep the brave men and women responding to these events safe, ensuring they make it home each day or night to their families. #robotics #SupportingThoseWhoServe #RobotsForGood

DRONES TO THE RESCUE The Israel Defense Forces are increasingly relying on inexpensive US-made drones to conduct hostage rescues and explore tunnels suspected to be used by militants as the country continues its military bombardment in the Gaza Strip. It’s been widely reported that soldiers have used such technology to map and explore tunnels where militants and hostages may be. But now, companies are providing drones that can push further than before, potentially saving Israeli troops’ lives. One of those companies is Shield AI, a defense tech startup created 8 years ago by a former Navy SEAL. In May, the company trained Israel on its quadcopters — small, inexpensive drones that can maneuver with agility — which allow the military to search dangerous areas without risking lives. Retrieving hostages taken by Hamas has been among Israel’s main objectives, but the equally difficult part is finding out where they’re being hidden. Hamas’ elaborate tunnel network is too dangerous for IDF troops to explore on foot, not to mention the buildings where militants could be lurking. That’s where the drones come in: It's like a self-driving car, but inside a compound. Hamas’ tunnel systems have been tough for Israel to locate. On Wednesday, Israel claimed to have uncovered a major Hamas command center in Gaza — essential to its mission of destroying the cavernous network. Exploring the pitch-black tunnels, however, is a perilous endeavor. Israel has turned to drones as one solution. It has also resorted to pumping seawater in with hopes of driving the militants out. South of Tel Aviv earlier this month, BLAKE RESNICK, CEO of Brinc Drones, helped train Israeli troops on his company’s drones in a simulated urban environment — like many areas in the densely packed Gaza Strip — and a tunnel network. The problem with sending technology deep into the ground is that they lose signal pretty easily. But Resnick’s drones can go further because they repeat each other’s signals. “So, you can take off your first aircraft, start flying in a tunnel until it starts to lose signal, then you can land it. Then, you use that as a repeater and send in another drone to go deeper,” Resnick said. When multiple drones are used in this manner, the signal “breadcrumbs” back to the operator, allowing the drones to explore much further than troops could on foot, Resnick said. As the drone searches the tunnel, it generates “a map of the flying route,” sending back high resolution videos and thermal footage in real time. Israel’s use of the small and cheap, yet efficient, technology will likely increase throughout Israel’s war with Hamas. Such drones can be carried in a soldier’s backpack. They are critical in providing support with battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance. (Politico)

There’s a difference between building #drones and building BRINC Drones. One’s about flight. The other’s about purpose. And if you’re still confusing the two, you’ve clearly never seen a #Lemur drop into a hostage situation through a shattered window and open a two-way line to save lives; not take them. Blake Resnick wasn’t trying to impress anyone when he left Northwestern at 17. He was trying to solve a problem Vegas couldn’t shake; the 2017 Route 91 shooting. Out of that trauma came BRINC, a company forged not in pitch decks, but in the quiet urgency of “never again.” Fast-forward to today: 600+ #publicsafety agencies, 10% of U.S. #SWATteams, and deployments from war zones in Ukraine to #waterrescues with OMADA. Can feel a movement happening. Now, with $75M in fresh Series D funding led by Index Ventures and backed by Motorola Solutions, Mike Volpi, Dylan Field, #SamAltman, Tusk Venture Partners, and Next Play Ventures, BRINC is writing the next chapter with the same urgency that launched it. That brings the total raised to $157.2M; every dollar a vote of confidence in U.S.-made tech that actually gives a damn. What separates BRINC from the white noise of #dronestartups chasing #governmentcontracts and #defensemargins? It’s not the Lemur 2’s glass-breaking arm or the Responder’s 70-second liftoff to a 911 call. It’s that every pixel, propeller, and packet of code is designed for one job: showing up before it’s too late. That means #RTK level precision, #meshnetworking that doesn’t cut out when lives are on the line, and software like LiveOps that doesn’t just stream video; it stores critical evidence in real time and feeds it into systems that matter. This isn’t sci-fi. It’s Seattle. It’s Las Vegas. It’s a team that includes Manoj Mohan, Steven Butler, Robert Madel, CFA, and Esmael Ansari, MPA, scaling the kind of #verticallyintegrated, #domesticmanufacturing most startups wouldn’t dare touch. BRINC’s entire supply chain is U.S.-based—and yes, they made China’s “unreliable entity list” for it. Call it a badge of honor. With Motorola Solutions deeply embedded, from real-time #crimecenter integration to #APXradio deployments, this isn’t just about scaling hardware. It’s about threading #aerialintelligence directly into the #emergencyresponse fabric of America. #AEDs. #Narcan. Evidence. Eyes where it matters. And zero tolerance for tech that harms. #Startups #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #Defense #DefenseTech #Drones #DeepTech #Surveillance #Technology #Innovation #TechEcosystem #StartupEcosystem

Will AI Save Human Lives? As we continue to debate whether artificial intelligence will replace human jobs, there's a more profound question we should be asking: How can AI save human lives—particularly those who risk their lives to save others? First responders—our firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and disaster relief workers—face life-threatening dangers daily: 🔥 Firefighters enter burning buildings, face structural collapses, and breathe toxic smoke. 🚓 Police officers confront armed suspects, navigate high-speed pursuits, and enter unstable situations. 🚑 Paramedics work in hazardous environments, from highway accident scenes to unstable structures. 🌪️ Disaster response teams venture into collapsed buildings, flood zones, and areas with chemical or radiation hazards. While AI cannot—and should not—replace these heroes, it can serve as their shield and extended capabilities: • Robotic scouts can enter burning buildings first, mapping structural integrity and locating victims before human firefighters risk entry. • AI-powered drones can assess disaster zones, create 3D maps of affected areas, and locate survivors—all before human responders set foot in dangerous terrain. • Remote-controlled robots can defuse bombs, handle hazardous materials, and enter contaminated zones without risking human lives. • Predictive AI systems can forecast fire spread patterns, structural collapse risks, and flood progression—giving responders crucial decision-making information. • Autonomous vehicles can deliver supplies or extract victims from dangerous areas that would be too risky for human drivers. What makes these technologies revolutionary isn't that they replace human responders—it's that they transform how humans can respond. The human elements of judgment, adaptability, emotional support, and complex decision-making remain irreplaceable. The question isn't whether machines will take human jobs, but rather: How can we use these technologies to ensure more first responders go home to their families each night? We're already seeing promising developments: - Boston Dynamics Spot robots helping assess hazardous situations - Firefighting robots that can spray water in environments too hot for humans - AI systems that predict wildfire spread with remarkable accuracy - Autonomous underwater vehicles for dangerous water rescues The future of emergency response isn't humans OR AI—it's humans AND AI, working together to save more lives while risking fewer. #ArtificialIntelligence #FirstResponders #EmergencyServices #PublicSafety #RoboticAssistance #AIForGood #HumanAICollaboration #TechnologyForGood

Since 2000, vaccines have helped cut child mortality by nearly 50%. But in too many places, geographic barriers still determine whether a child gets vaccinated. Across the African continent, local innovation is reshaping what’s possible. In Rwanda, drones are delivering vaccines to remote clinics, expanding access in areas once considered unreachable. With more than 82% of Rwanda's population living in rural areas, the potential impact is transformative. But this isn’t just about the tools we use; it’s about making systems work better for the people they’re meant to serve. Right now, a new generation of African innovators is building solutions that are faster, smarter, and better adapted to local realities.  Philanthropy plays a critical role in sustaining this momentum – not by setting the direction, but by helping accelerate the leaders already charting the path forward. 

Look at the two different Pinpoints (waypoint for you aviators) in this image and notice how they appear in this augmented reality display… at first glance they appear to be in two completely different locations, but on a flat map they are in the exact same geographical spot as they have the exact same latitude/longitude coordinates. The only difference is their altitude in MSL (mean sea level, or other words their height above seal level.) The lower pinpoint is at sea level while the higher is at 8,400 ft. It is incredibly important to include the altitude (z axis coordinate) when planning your rescues. Having the ability to have the pinpoint displayed like this at its ACTUAL location is so incredibly useful to the SAR UAS pilot. This ability increases situational awareness, decreases search times, and increases the possibility of saving lives. Aircraft such as this DJI Matrice 30T is amazingly suited with the best reliability in the industry to enable #firstresponders to save American lives. It’s vitally to learn your aircraft, it’s systems and all its many capabilities to increase your ability to save lives. #drones #searchandrescue #firstresponders #livesoverprofit #innovatenotlegislate #corporategreed