Aeryon Deploys SkyRangers to Caribbean for Hurricane Irma Response

Aeryon Labs Inc., has deployed SkyRanger UAS and an expert pilot to help support the disaster recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Starting in Sint Maarten, Aeryon has partnered with the relief organization GlobalMedic to provide aerial intelligence to first responders and international disaster relief teams on the ground.

The Aeryon SkyRanger™ sUAS, airframe and integrated platform, is based on successful customer exercises and missions around the world. Ideal for commercial, public safety and military applications

Last week, Hurricane Irma struck the northeast Caribbean with terrifying force Wednesday, its battering rain and winds of up to 185 miles per hour leaving a trail of chaos, wreckage and flooding from Barbuda to Puerto Rico, before taking aim at islands farther west and, beyond them, Florida.

“GlobalMedic immediately offered our support to the communities affected by Irma,” said Rahul Singh, Executive Director, Global Medic. “Using UAS for aerial intelligence and reconnaissance enables us to rapidly determine how and where to help the people who need it the most. Aeryon’s UAS are built for reliable operations in extreme conditions like high winds and torrential rain, making them the perfect aerial asset for our disaster response efforts.”

The Aeryon SkyRangers deployed to the Caribbean are equipped with Aeryon SR-EO/IR Mk II thermal cameras to help locate survivors by detecting body heat. In addition, Aeryon’s HDZoom30 cameras deliver powerful zoom capabilities and can provide detailed facial recognition from over 1,000 feet away.

The Aeryon SkyRanger is a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) sUAS – ideal for providing continuous eyes-on-target for situational awareness, operations in confined environments, and
low-risk launch and retrieval without peripheral equipment. SkyRanger is ideally suited for both land and maritime military use including covert ISR, convoy and compound security, and ship
boarding operations.

“UAS enable ground-based rescue teams to collect critical aerial intelligence and deploy rescue resources quickly and where they are needed most,” said Bill McHale, CEO at Aeryon Labs. “We are proud to be able to support the Irma relief efforts and to continue developing advanced UAS technology that helps save lives.”

St Maarten damage from AeryonSR

In addition to search and rescue work, GlobalMedic will use SkyRangers to create detailed 2D and 3D maps of the affected areas, so that first responders can prioritize resources and coordinate the most effective response. In areas where the majority of the buildings have been destroyed, these maps will also provide valuable information that will aid in the rebuilding efforts.

The Hurricane Irma response is the fourth time Aeryon has partnered with GlobalMedic and their RescUAV program which uses innovative UAS technology to aid in disasters. Aeryon deployed UAS and pilots to assist after the Nepal earthquake in 2015, the Ecuador earthquake in 2016, and the Columbian landslides earlier this year.

To donate to GlobalMedic’s Hurricane Irma response visit their donation page.

About Aeryon Labs

Aeryon Labs Inc. is trusted by Military, Public Safety and Energy customers around the world for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and support services that deliver life and resource saving, actionable aerial intelligence. Aeryon’s industrial-grade, field-proven UAS solutions set the standard for real-time, secure aerial intelligence across a wide range of applications, from executing tactical missions to investigating traffic incidents to inspecting critical infrastructure.