Goodrich,8Goodrich M.A. Morse B.S. Engh C. Cooper J.L. Adams J.A. Towards using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in wilderness search and rescue. 2009USAAssess the usage of a UAV in WSARNot specifiedUsability study90Forest; autonomous fixed wing; path planning and search patternsCase 1: unsuccessful
Case 2: victim locatedNot specifiedUAVs can be used to support WSAR operationsAbrahamsen,9A remotely piloted aircraft system in major incident management: concept and pilot, feasibility study. 2015NOAssess feasibility of using a UAV system to support remote sensing27 simulated victimsFeasibility study<15Mountain; piloted multirotor with thermal imageryAll simulations successfulNot specifiedUAVs can deliver tools and support situational assessmentCacace et al,10Cacace J. Finzi A. Lippiello V. Furci M. Mimmo N. Marconi L. A control architecture for multiple drones operated via multimodal interaction in search & rescue mission. International Symposium on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics. 2016CHAssess a control architecture for multiple UAVs in WSARNot specifiedFeasibility studyMountain; autonomous multirotor; search patterns; software controlThe control architecture is effectiveNot specifiedUAV technologies can effectively be utilized in WSARLevin et al,11Levin E. Zarnowski A. McCarty J.L. Bialas J. Banaszek A. Banaszek S. Feasibility study of inexpensive thermal sensors and small UAS deployment for living human detection in rescue missions application scenarios. 2016POAssess feasibility of UAVs with thermal imaging1 simulated victimFeasibility study18
14Forest; multirotor with thermal imageryThermal imaging allows live-victim detectionDJI Inspire I; 3DRn IRISThermal imaging UAVs are effective in WSAR operationSilvagni et al,12Silvagni M. Tonoli A. Zenerino E. Chiaberge M. Multipurpose UAV for search and rescue operations in mountain avalanche events. 2017ITAssess usage of UAVs with thermal cameras and an avalanche beaconNot specifiedUsability study30Mountain; autonomous multirotor; thermal imagery; path planningThe UAV system if effectivePRO S3 VentureUAVs can support WSAR operationsVan Tilburg,2First report of using portable unmanned aircraft systems (drones) for search and rescue. 2017USAReport on a UAV used in WSAR2 victimsCase report25Mountain and canyon; piloted multirotorCase 1: victim located
Case 2: unsuccessfulAerial Technology International SAR BotUAVs can be used to confirm fatalities and aid WSAR operationsKesteloo,13Mountaineer Rick Allen was feared dead on Broad Peak, but a DJI Mavic Pro drone found him alive. 2018USAReport on a UAV used in WSAR1 victimNews report27Mountain; piloted multirotorVictim locatedDJI Mavic Pro MultirotorUAVs can be used to locate victimsKaraca et al,3Karaca Y. Cicek M. Tatli O. Sahin A. Pasli S. Beser M.F. et al.The potential use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) in mountain search and rescue operations. 2018TRCompare classic search techniques with UAV search techniquesNot specifiedRandomized simulationMountain; piloted multirotorLocated all mannequinsDJI Phantom 3 ProVictims can be located faster with a UAVMcRae et al,5McRae J.N. Gay C.J. Nielsen B.M. Hunt A.P. Using an unmanned aircraft system (drone) to conduct a complex high altitude search and rescue operation: a case study. 2019USAReport on a UAV used in WSAR1 victimCase report27Mountain; piloted multirotorVictim locatedDJI Mavic Pro MultirotorUAVs can be used to locate victimsMcKenzie,14Drone spots Scots climber feared dead in Himalayas. 2018UKReport on a UAV used in WSAR1 victimNews reportMountain; piloted multirotorVictim locatedNot specifiedUAVs can be used to locate victimsPodsiadło et al,15Podsiadło P. Bargiel B. Moskal W. Mountain rescue operations facilitated with drone usage. 2019POReport on a UAV used in WSAR2 victimsCase report27Mountain; piloted multirotorVictim located; medication delivered successfullyDJI Mavic Pro MultirotorUAVs can locate and guide victims and deliver medicineHanrahan,16Police use drone to find blind man who had been missing for 33 hours. 2020USAReport on a UAV used in WSAR1 victimNews report30ForestVictim locatedNot SpecifiedPolice used UAV to locate the victimSchedl et al,17Schedl D.C. Kurmi I. Bimber O. Search and rescue with airborne optical sectioning. 2020ATAssess if detection rate in WSAR can improve by combining UAV images57 simulated victimsFeasibility study20Forest; autonomous multirotor; AOS53 of 57 persons locatedMikroKopter OktoX 6S12Detection rate is improved by using UAV obtained imagesRodriguez,18Rodriguez M. Al-Kaff A. Madridano A. Martin D. De La Escalera A. Wilderness search and rescue with heterogeneous multi-robot systems. International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 2020GRAssess if a multirobot system can improve UAV usage in WSARNot specifiedFeasibility studyMountainCompleted 10 of 10 tasksNot SpecifiedThe system is effective in controlling multiple UAVsWeldon and Hupy,19Investigating methods for integrating unmanned aerial systems in search and rescue operations. 2020USAAssess viability of object identifying software in WSAR with a UAVNot specifiedSimulation study38
150Forest; autonomous fixed wing; color identification softwareSoftware identified all objectsC-Astral Bramor PPXUAV software can assist in identifying victimsMcRae et al,20McRae J.N. Nielsen B.M. Gay C.J. Hunt A.P. Nigh A.D. Utilizing drones to restore and maintain radio communication during search and rescue operations. 2021USAAssess if communication in WSAR can be improved with a UAVNot specifiedFeasibility study10Mountain and canyon; piloted multirotor; repeater systemCommunication restored in all testsDJI Mavic 2 ProFailed communication can be restored with a UAVSchedl et al,21Schedl D.C. Kurmi I. Bimber O. An autonomous drone for search and rescue in forests using airborne optical sectioning. 2021ATAssess an autonomous UAV with airborne optical sectioning in WSAR42 simulated victimsFeasibility study20Forest; autonomous multirotor; thermal camera; AOS38 of 42 hidden persons foundMikroKopter OktoX 6S12UAVs with airborne optical sectioning can support WSAR operationsWankmüller,22Wankmüller C. Kunovjanek M. Mayrgündter S. Drones in emergency response—evidence from cross-border, multi-disciplinary usability tests. 2021AT, ITExplore usability of UAVs in cross-border WSAR288 simulated victimsUsability study20–48Mountains; piloted multirotorAir6 Systems Air8; Autel Robotics EVO II; DJI Mavic 2 Zoom; DJI Mavic Enterprise Zoom; DJI Mavic Mini; MAVTech Q4T; DJI Mavic Air; Soleon Coanda X6UAVs have multiple uses in WSAR operationsNomalanga,23EMS drone project in the Western Cape a huge success. 2021SAReport on a UAV used in WSAR2 victimsNews reportAquatic (coast) and mountain1 of 2 victims locatedNot specifiedUAVs can be used to locate victimsYeom,24Moving people tracking and false track removing with infrared thermal imaging by a multirotor. 2021KRAssess a detection and tracking system with a thermal imaging UAV13 simulated victimsFeasibility study27Mountain; infrared thermal camera and detection software13 of 13 objects locatedDJI Inspire 2The detection and tracking system is useful in WSARCicek et al,25Cicek M. Pasli S. Imamoglu M. Yadigaroglu M. Beser M.F. Gunduz A. Simulation-based drone assisted search operations in a river. 2022TRCompare drone-assisted SAR with classic SAR techniquesNot specifiedSimulation31Aquatic (river); piloted multirotorLocated all dummiesDJI Mavic 2 ProUAV searches are faster than ground-based searches