SEATLE- BRINC, a Seattle-based company specializing in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology for first responders, announced it has partnered with Kirkland, Washington-based ground-based radar systems company Echodyne to integrate Echodyne’s advanced MESA radar technology into BRINC’s purpose-built Drone-as-First-Responder (DFR) solution. The strategic relationship enables a path to beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations without visual observers, improved airspace surveillance for safer operations, and lowers the barrier to entry for public safety agencies looking to launch or expand DFR programs.
Drone first responder (DFR) systems are designed to reduce emergency response times and improve first responder decision-making. However, current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require a visual observer to be on-site during drone operations, limiting the flexibility and operating hours of these systems. This requirement also increases the staffing challenges facing public safety agencies across the United States. A 2023 study by the Police Executive Research Forum highlighted these challenges, showing an increase in police resignations over the past four years and a 5% decrease in the number of sworn officers.
DFR systems must operate over long distances and in environments with obstructions or adverse weather conditions. To achieve this, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight exemptions are critical. A new partnership between BRINC and Echodyne aims to improve the safety and reliability of these operations and provide BRINC’s customers with a way to meet FAA requirements for BVLOS without the need for a visual observer.
Related: BRINC Announces LiveOps Drone Platform for First Responders
Echodyne’s radar systems provide continuous monitoring and real-time data of the drone’s surroundings, including other aircraft, obstacles and sudden changes in the environment.
“Echodyne radars have been used for years by UAS Centers of Excellence as well as in FAA and NASA test programs,” said Eben Frankenberg, CEO of Echodyne. “DFR offers a unique opportunity to introduce large-scale BVLOS operations, and radars are the ideal sensor to provide detailed and accurate airspace situational awareness.”
BRINC’s DFR system integrates Echodyne’s radar technology and sends radar data to an agency’s LiveOps account. This integration allows agencies to monitor drone operations along with ADS-B data, airspace alerts, weather conditions, and radar measurements. The system also enables automated safety actions, such as alerting pilots to potential hazards or shutting down and rerouting drones to avoid air traffic.
