Many SAR businesses and emergency organizations have previously used drones in their search and rescue operations. Drones can save a lot of time and effort in SAR missions. But have you thought about which drones you should utilize for your search and rescue missions? In this article, I’ve compiled a list of the seven best drones for search and rescue. To learn more, keep reading.
Table of Contents
How Do Drones Help Search and Rescue?
Suppose a person is missing, and we will need to find possible places where the missing person can be trapped. For this task, the best drone for search and rescue missions can help us.
These drones provide fast and cheap data of any large area. Some drones also feature sensors that can identify the location and show the map of that place.
Rather than a missing person, suppose anyone is stuck in a natural disaster. The best drone for search and rescue missions is going to help there as well.
What to Look While Buying Search and Rescue Drone?
As we told you, it is difficult to choose the best drone for search and rescue professionals. Here is what you should consider while buying the best drones for search and rescue.
First, you should consider the range of a drone. All drones come with a flying range according to their use. As you will use the drone for search and rescue, you should purchase a drone with a wide range.
Secondly, you can check the flight time of the drone. The best drones for SAR operations should have a long flight time. Lastly, you should think about the price of the drone and your budget.
After checking all these things, you can also see the weight, power source, and extra features. The features depend on the price and brand. Make sure to purchase a drone from a trustful brand.
Top 7 Best Drones for Search and Rescue Reviews
Do you want to learn more about how to use drones for search and rescue? You’ve arrived at the right location. I’ve reviewed 7 of the best drones for search and rescue in 2022 below, but before that, read this drone search and rescue article to learn everything you need to know about picking the best drone for your purposes.
1. DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced Compact Commercial Drone
Main Features
- High resolution 48MP visual camera
- 32x big digital zoom
- Automated inspection function
- Dual vision feature
- 640*512px high resolution
The DJI Mavic 2 enterprise compact commercial drone is the top model on this list. This is the best DJI search and rescue drone. It comes with a 640*512px thermal camera. The resolution of this camera is improved. It is four times better than the previous model Mavic 2 dual.
The thermal camera allows you to see through smoke and foliage. You can also use this drone in low-light conditions to find the missing. It has a 48MP visual camera that captures excellent images with every detail.
Because of the high-resolution camera, you can check and understand the location easily. Its camera features are not over. The high-resolution camera comes with 32X digital zoom. It allows you to see what is happening on the ground.
The dual vision camera is easier to use as well. You can tap to switch between visual, thermal, and split-view. The company also offers accessories like the loudspeaker, spotlight, and other things with the drone.
However, you will need to pay a little extra for accessories. The Mavic 2 is a lightweight and flexible drone. You can carry and assemble it easily. It can also work in complex environments with automated inspection missions.
What I like:
- Comes with a 48MP camera
- Can see through smoke and low-light conditions
- Compact and foldable design
- Features 32X digital zoom
What I don’t like:
- No warranties
- Price is a bit higher
2. DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Quadcopter Drone
Main Features:
- 4K video capturing capacity
- 12MP camera with optical zoom
- Features functions like adjustable aperture, HDR photos, etc
- 135 minutes battery life on a full charge
- 8GB internal storage and supports 128GB SD card
The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is another great choice to purchase. It is a mid-range quadcopter drone. The quadcopter drone features a 12MP sensor with 4x zoom. It also has a 2x optical zoom.
The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom gives you 31 minutes of flight time with a maximum speed of 44mph. It comes with functions like active track 2.0, hyper-lapse, low-noise design, etc. These functions make this an advanced drone.
This quadcopter drone also features a 3-axis gimbal for perfect shots. You will get 8GB of internal storage with the quadcopter drone. The drone also allows you to use an SD card with up to 128GB of space.
Its remote controller comes with a long battery life of more than 2 hours. The company also provides some accessories with the drone. The package includes a gimbal protector, remote controller, battery charger, power cable, and many other things.
You can install the DJI GO 4 app to use the drone. However, it will require iOS 10.02, Android 5.0, and above. But, it is compatible with most smartphones. There is one more variant of this drone available on amazon. You can choose any of the two variants.
What I like:
- Made with great materials
- Extremely stable
- Great camera with optical zoom
- Comes with all accessories
- Long battery and flight time
What I don’t like:
- High price for some people
- Controller has to recalibrate
3. DJI Inspire 2 Drone for Search and Rescue
Main Features:
- App control function
- 27 maximum flight time
- Can fly around half an hour per full charge
- Smart return home technology
- It has intelligent flight modes
Another best model from DJI. The DJI inspire 2 is one of the premium drones on the list. It allows you to take shot 4K videos with ASF video capture format. The remote controller is not included with the drone.
However, you can control the drone using the DJI app. The drone comes with a spotlight pro. This spotlight is compatible with 5.2K gimbal cameras. There are intelligent flight modes in this DJI Inspire 2 drone.
The drone can detect obstacles with an obstacle sensing range of five-meter. It comes with the smart return to home feature. If you lost communication with your drone, then it will automatically come back to the set location.
The smart return to home is like a safety feature for the drone. You can use this drone in areas where the temperature ranges from -4∙ to 104∙F. The maximum flight time of this drone is around 27 minutes. This DJI drone also comes with most accessories without paying extra.
What I like:
- Provides incredible performance
- Great flight time
- Useful for making films as well
- Allows for 4K videos
What I don’t like:
- Some people are complaining about gimbal
- A few complaints about customer services
4. Yuneec H520 + CGOET System Drone for Search and Rescue
Main Features:
- CGOET camera with thermal imaging
- Ultrasonic collision prevention intelligent front sonar sensors
- Comes with smart return home technology
- Provides a 360-degree wide view
The Yuneec H520 is the most advanced drone on this list. Also, the price of this model is higher than others. If you can afford the price, then it is a great choice. It will cost you between $3500 and $4000.
The Yuneec H520+ drone comes with a CGOT camera. The CGOT is the only dual-image camera system integrated with the gimbal. It also comes with features like thermal imaging and a low-light camera.
You can rotate this flexible drone 360 degrees to view a wide area. It comes with six rotors especially designed for search and rescue. There are two forward-facing sensors on the drone. The drone will stop before hitting any obstacles.
It also has smart return home technology. It will come back even in low battery condition. You can use a micro SD card with this premium drone. The Yuneec DataPilot software makes it is to create ortho maps, 3D scans, etc.
You do not need to purchase other expensive 3rd party software. With this premium drone, you will get all accessories that help while using the drone.
What I like:
- Designed with Six rotors
- It has front-facing sensors
- Features top-notch camera system
- Able to rotate 360 degree
What I don’t like:
- The price is too high
- No user reviews
5. DJI Air 2S Quadcopter Drone with 5.4K Video
Main Features:
- 1-inch image sensor
- Can take 5.4K/30fps and 4K/60fps videos
- Comes with a master shorts feature
- It can record up to a 10-bit color profile
The DJI air 2S drone comes with a 1-inch image sensor and large 2.4 pixels. It makes the drone capable of shooting 5.4K/30fps and 4K/60fps videos. The drone also features advanced intelligent master shorts.
You can capture images in any difficult conditions with just one tap. The 10-bit dlog-m color profile can record more than one billion colors. It will give you 100% accurate details.
Not only this, the drone features the most advanced O3 image transmission technology. It will provide a smooth and clear image so that you can notice the details. The drone also can avoid obstacles even at high speed.
What I like:
- Safety and reliability of drone system
- Has larger camera sensor to improve image quality
- Easy to use for beginners
- Supports 256GB memory card
- Affordable price
What I don’t like:
- Its app will not support many devices
- The battery life is not enough for a few users
6. Parrot Complete Nomad Pro Drone
Main Features:
- Comes with a 4K HDR 21MP camera
- 3-axis image stabilization
- Easy to carry because of compact size
- Smart return home and geofence technology
If you have an average budget, then you should purchase this parrot nomad pro drone. Also, this model is available in five different styles. The parrot nomads pro drone comes with a 4K HDR 21MP camera that captures high-resolution aerial images.
You can rotate its camera 180 degrees to take pictures from hard-to-reach areas. It also has hybrid 3-axis image stabilization to provide stable video and photos. It is a stable drone even with a wind speed of 50km/h.
The flight time of this drone is around 100 minutes. It provides more flight time than other models. The compact design allows you to easily carry this drone in a shoulder bag. It has return home technology and a geofence function for safe flights.
What I like:
- Quiet flight
- Simple to use application
- Easy to recharge the drone
- Great camera quality
- Lightweight and compact
What I don’t like:
- Controller is not too good
- Limited video formats
7. Autel Robotics EVO || Pro Drone
Main Features:
- Features sony 1” CMOS sensor
- Take images with 8000*6000 resolution
- Adjustable aperture range of f2.8 to f11
- It has a 360-degree obstacle avoidance feature
- Provides large battery capacity
If you are looking for a drone that allows for 6K videos, this is the best drone for you. The Autel Robotics EVO pro drone can record 6K video at 30fps. You can also shoot 4K/5.5K videos at 60fps.
With the high-quality camera, you can take pictures with a resolution of 8000*6000 pixels. The camera also has an adjustable aperture range of f2.8 to f11. It also has a 7100mAh big battery life.
Therefore, the drone provides 40 minutes flight time for forwarding flying or 35 minutes hovering. Its top speed is around 45mph. The drone features a 360-degree obstacle avoidance function as well.
Overall, autel robotics is one of the perfect models of this list. It provides the best features at an average price range. But, the price can be higher for some people.
What I like:
- Easy to fly the drone
- It is stable
- Comes with too many advanced functions
- Allows for 6K videos
- 7100mAh large battery life
What I don’t like:
- Follow me program is not good
- Low customer services
Can Drones be used for Search and Rescue?
Yes, as we discussed, drones are very helpful for search and rescue missions. You can use drones to locate missing people, kids, and animals as well. The drones allow you to see a large portion from a bird-eye view.
These drones can start searching before the ground team becomes ready for the mission. The search and rescue drones are used by all emergency services like military officers, police officers, firefighters, etc.
Why Drones are the Future of Search and Rescue?
Well, there are many reasons behind this. The first benefit is its quick and effective work. The Search and rescue drones can work more quickly than the ground teams. Therefore, drones are not only useful to collect data from the air.
Because of drones, the rescue team can respond quickly with an extra eye. These drones also have infrared cameras. It helps the rescue team to detect heat signatures and identify the victims.
What is the Best Drone for Search and Rescue?
The DJI Inspire 2 drone is the greatest all-around drone available, and it’s ideal for search-and-rescue missions. This drone surpasses the original Inspire in terms of performance. It’s designed to survive poor weather, fly in strong gusts and at high altitudes, and easily monitor moving things. Drones that are easy to utilize during operations are more likely to be used by a search-and-rescue team.
How Do I Get a Drone Job?
To get a drone job, you should have experience in operating drones. It is also necessary to have a remote pilot certificate from FAA. As a drone operator, you should have communication skills, expertise in multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills. These skills are required to get a drone job.
Can Drone Detect Heat?
Now all the drones can detect heat. However, drones that come with infrared or thermal cameras can detect heat. These cameras detect infrared wavelengths and convert them into electronic signals.
The drones will send electronic signals to the image processors. Once the image processor receives electronic signals, it creates an image called a thermographic image. The thermographic image shows temperature values with different colors.
Drones for Search and Rescue Techniques: Conclusion
Having a drone for search and rescue missions doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to get the most expensive drone. However, your search and rescue drone must be the best one in three main functions: it must be lightweight, durable, and portable so that you can take it anywhere whenever help is needed. And when you’re looking for a drone for search and rescue, here are the 7 best drones for search and rescue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do Search and Rescue Drones Do?
The best drones for search and rescue help rescue teams in different ways. It is costly to get aerial searches for lost persons. These drones provide aerial searches at low cost and minimum resources. The search and rescue drones provide maximum data of any place at a low cost.
Do search and rescue teams use drones?
Drones are now becoming popular for search and rescue operations. Because of the extra benefits, many search and rescue teams use drones.
Who uses search and rescue drones?
The search and rescue drones are used by military officers, polish officers, firefighters, and other rescue teams. These teams use search and rescue drones to find or rescue any missing person.
