LARUS
An unmanned aircraft for the support of sea rescue missions under heavy weather conditions
For ships in distress and people floating in the ocean every minute counts. The accuracy of the information about the situation at the scene of the accident is crucial for a swift rescue of the shipwrecked. However, the incoming emergency messages are often inaccurate and do not contain all the information necessary for the efficient operation of the maritime search and rescue service. The rapid search and location of the stricken from the air is therefore a crucial key competence for search and rescue missions.
Objectives and Approach
The project aims to further develop an unmanned aerial system in a way that it supports the search and rescue missions at sea automatically - without the help of a pilot. The combination of state-of-the-art sensors significantly speeds up the search process, which dramatically increases the probability of discovery and substantially improves the chances of survival of the shipwrecked. In addition to the detection capabilities, the communication technology integrated into the aircraft enables contact to the stricken as well as the transmission of telemedical data and precise location information to the approaching rescue units.
Innovation and Perspectives
The LARUS project establishes the foundations for the operation of an unmanned, automated system, that is fully integrated into the civil airspace in order to support maritime search and rescue in Germany. The numerous sensors and communication interfaces make the system suitable for operation in other scenarios, such as the offshore industry or disaster management.
Project Information
Program
Research for Civil Security
Announcement: "Civil Security - Innovative Rescue and Security Systems"
Project Partners
- Technische Universität Dortmund
- Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
- Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger, DGzRS for short, Bremen
- IMST GmbH, Kamp Lintfort
- OptoPrecision GmbH, Bremen
- HANSEATIC AVIATION SOLUTIONS GmbH, Bremen
Associate Partner:
- Global Health Care GmbH, Berlin
- Deutsche Telekom AG, Bonn
Project Coordinator
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Wietfeld Technische Universität Dortmund