In a significant step forward for maritime rescue efforts, Finland’s Port of Helsinki recently tested the feasibility of using drones to deliver rescue buoys to individuals in danger at sea. The trial took place at Vuosaari in Helsinki’s Eastern Harbour, where a drone successfully transported a buoy to a fire department employee simulating a victim in the water.
The goal of the test was to assess whether drones could speed up response times in emergency sea rescues by deploying flotation devices ahead of human rescue teams. The buoy used in the demonstration automatically deployed upon hitting the water, offering immediate support. Since the Helsinki City Rescue Department already employs drones for tasks like accident site surveys and search missions, expanding their use to buoy delivery seemed like a logical progression.
Conducted under windy conditions, the trial saw the drone deliver the buoy from a distance of approximately 500 meters.
Following the test, the equipment was transferred to the Helsinki City Rescue Department, enabling them to incorporate it into their existing drone systems.
This effort is part of the EU-funded CITYAM project, which promotes the adoption of drones for a range of urban tasks. The trial was organized by Forum Virium Helsinki, the city’s innovation hub, in partnership with VTT, the Port of Helsinki, and the Helsinki City Rescue Department. Timo Lind, the lead researcher, highlighted that the trial not only tested the drone’s cargo delivery capabilities but also examined safe drone operation in a complex harbor setting.
Image source: Forum Virium Helsinki