BRINC has announced a new partnership with Echodyne, a provider of ground-based radar systems.
According to the drone technology company, this collaboration will integrate Echodyne’s advanced MESA radar technology into BRINC’s purpose-built Drone as First Responder (DFR) solution.
Echodyne’s radar systems will offer continuous monitoring and real-time data on the drone‘s surrounding environment, including the location of other aircraft, obstacles and dynamic changes that can occur at a
moment’s notice.
The strategic relationship enables a path toward beyond-visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations without visual observers, advanced airspace awareness for safer operations and lowers the barrier to entry for public safety agencies looking to start or expand DFR programs, BRINC says.
Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require a visual observer onsite for drone operations to monitor flights.
The onsite visual observer rule limits drones, flexibility and operating times for emergency response operations.
More importantly, it adds an extra staffing burden when public safety agencies across the US are understaffed.
DFR requires extended range and operation in obstructed environments and inclement weather. BVLOS waivers are therefore essential for successful DFR implementation.
The BRINC partnership with Echodyne will add a layer of safety and reliability while providing a path for BRINC’s customers to meet the stringent FAA requirements for BVLOS operations without a visual observer.
“By combining BRINC’s drone technology with Echodyne’s advanced radar, we are creating a safe, robust and reliable solution for first responders to deploy 911 response drones autonomously to emergencies,” said Blake Resnick, BRINC CEO.
“Echodyne radars have been used for years by UAS centers of excellence, as well as FAA and NASA
testing programs,” said Eben Frankenberg, Echodyne CEO.
“DFR represents a unique opportunity to introduce widescale BVLOS operations and radars are the ideal sensor to provide detailed and accurate airspace situational awareness.”
As part of BRINC’s comprehensive DFR offering, BRINC Integrates Echodyne’s hardware to send radar
readings to an agency’s connected LiveOps account.