BVLOS flight for maritime search and rescue Learning from the RNLI and HM Coastguard technology demo challenge UKSAR3D Hannah Nobbs Innovation Scout, RNLI innovation@rnli.org.uk RAeS Conference BVLOS in the UK 19th September 2018

Contents Motivation and background context Roadmap for the exploitation of the 3rd dimension for Search and Rescue RNLI and HM Coastguard Technology Demonstrator Challenge Focus on BVLOS Lessons from the challenge Next Steps Our ask of you… RNLI/Adrian Don RNLI// Michael Howland

Motivation for exploring the 3rd Dimension RNLI and MCA believe unmanned aerial systems offer potential benefits: Enhance search capability Reduce risk to our people

UKSAR3D Technology Demonstrator Challenge Exploring the potential of drones for search and rescue Q3 2018 Reporting of findings and recommendations RNLI and MCA led collaborative activity with Industry and Regulators

Representative Design Reference Missions: RNLI HM Coastguard Police Lowland SAR Communications Blackspot Offshore Search Shoreline Search Mud Rescue

Industry Participation Tethered Drone Systems Sky Watch Search Systems Team Indago ( Lockheed Martin UK & Scisys) UAVE From 26 Applications and 8 invitations to participate

Challenge Components

BVLOS for Offshore Search Selection of location NPAS

Deconfliction Separation managed through Temporary Danger Area and safety plan Other Airspace Users Cardiff Airport Traffic NPAS HM Coastguard General Aviation

What was the outcome? Building blocks of a potential future search capability were demonstrated by a successful beyond visual line of sight flight in segregated but busy civil airspace UAVE successfully launched their Mk3 Prion UAS, conducting a BVLOS flight and demonstration of emergency procedures including execution of a holding pattern on the outskirts of St Athan airfield. The de-confliction procedure successfully implemented when NPAS received a call out. Due to a combination of technical issues and inclement meteorological conditions, collaboration with a maritime SAR asset in a realistic SAR scenario was not achieved.

UKSAR 3D Key Lessons Practical demonstrations of UAS in operational context revealed: The technology is mature enough to support localised, tactical operations: Alleviating communications blackspots Enhancing situational awareness at incident commander level Greater maturity is needed to develop operations beyond visual line of sight and realise benefit from this capability SAR community can nudge this development.

UKSAR 3D Key Lessons First time the RNLI and MCA has worked in this way with industry Risk involved with this approach Huge benefits - short timescale, cost effective learning Appetite from industry to engage with the End User

UKSAR 3D Key Lessons Safety aspects for the flying platform considered by Industry in great depth: Situational awareness Positional Awareness Command and Control …but to be operationally useful in the SAR environment we also need to know the area covered by the sensors

UKSAR 3D – Public Perception Positive response to concept and approach Tweet: 64 retweets and 138 likes Facebook: 197k people reached, 935 likes and 313 shares LinkedIn: 324 likes and 18 comments Insta: 950 like and 25 comments

Next Steps RNLI and MCA recommendations to UKSAR Strategic Committee to drive strategy on behalf of wider UKSAR community Openly share findings, methodologies and lessons learnt with IMRF organisations. Portfolio of projects to build on co-development towards vision of UAS as a regular, routine tool for SAR BVLOS – the vision is to enable a ‘sandpit area’ for this developing capability Machine learning training for SAR using datasets from SAR operator imagery Design sprint for model of operations.

UKSAR3D Project Partners: The support and expertise of the following organisations is gratefully acknowledged: Maritime and Coastguard Agency Industry Teams – Indago (Lockheed Martin UK and Scisys), TDS, UAVE, Sky Watch Search Systems, SkyBound Rescuer. RNLI Operations Barry Dock Lifeboat Station HM Coastguard Rescue Teams (Area 13) Cardiff Airport ATC Welsh Government & St Athan Atlantic College Civil Aviation Authority Essex Police

Our ask of you… Positively challenge our approach and engage with our roadmap towards the routine use of autonomous systems to deliver lifesaving effect. Take advantage of opportunities to understand more about the SAR environment RNLI Open datasets https://rnli.org/about-us/our-research/rnli-open-data