Increasingly, drones are being considered for search & rescue (SAR) missions. Their speed, eye-in-the-sky perspective and cost-effectiveness provide many benefits over traditional methods.
There are many ways drones support search and rescue applications. First, drones provide a birds-eye view of a scene. Teams scan wide areas with an attached camera. Thermal (infrared) payloads are also highly useful for SAR teams. These sensors detect small temperature changes in an environment. As a result, someone who may be otherwise hard to see may be detected. Finally, optional payloads like dropping mechanisms, communication relays, and loudhailers can be useful for specific purposes.