We’ve seen the team at BRINC pioneer an unprecedented amount of collaboration across the drone industry in 2024. The announcement of a partnership with Higher Ground came out earlier this year, while news about their work with Echodyne to create a DFR solution that enables automated BVLOS operations made headlines more recently. This unofficial endeavor to work with others to create more complete drone  solutions for public safety continued with last week’s announcement of a strategic partnership with OMADA Group to redefine water rescue operations using drones to deploy Emergency Flotation Devices (EFDs).

This collaboration enhances water rescue operations through BRINC’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) solution. BRINC will now equip public safety agencies across the US and Canada with drone-deployable Restube (which is an inflatable safety buoy) equipment from OMADA Group that are designed to set a new standard for integrating EFDs with drones. This integration reduces the time it takes to mount the drone. The EFD's design allows it to remain attached to the drone during charging, making it incredibly convenient for users already familiar with the Restube Automatic from OMADA Group, which has been around since 2012. This development will help experienced and new users take these capabilities to the next level. 

“As public safety operations become more multifaceted, more agencies have adopted the Restube to meet their expanding scope of work,” said Don Redmond, BRINC VP of Advanced Public Safety Projects. “The FDNY incorporated this solution into their daily operations at beaches. Restube emergency flotation devices can now integrate with new and emerging DFR solutions, including charging nests, enabling drones to respond to water emergencies at a moment’s notice.”

Thanks to this new integration, agencies can mount the Restube Automatic EFD directly onto Responder drones via BRINC’s custom Restube mount and deliver EFDs to water emergencies in seconds. That speed and ease of use is especially relevant in water rescue operations and on beaches where limited resources and large crowds can create additional challenges.

“Lifeguard shortages cause safety risks because beaches close due to staff shortages while swimming is still available,” said Arcady Shteynberg, Owner/Partner of OMADA Group LLC. “Without a lifeguard on duty, everyday swimming situations can become life-threatening. Challenges are also prevalent even with lifeguards on duty. Drowning victims do not always exhibit signs of distress so identifying them can be challenging, especially in high-density swimming areas. Drone technology, combined with the Restube emergency floatation device, provides an immediate, measured stopgap solution until first responders arrive."

It's a perfect example of a situation where the deployment of flotation devices to people who need them as quickly as possible can make all the difference. Drones can deliver flotation devices to a scene faster than a boat, providing agencies with a solution that’s as fast as it is effective. That ease of use along with features that provide first responders with additional means of communication can make a big difference in emergency situations.

"The BRINC Responder is the industry's first purpose-built public safety drone with features that make EFD deployment and water rescue missions more efficient,” Redmond told Commercial UAV News. “The integrated dropper and seamless EFD mount minimizes the impact of carrying an EFD on the drone’s flight performance and allows the EFD to be left mounted while the drone is charging. The drone’s integrated emergency lights and siren alert swimmers that the airframe is an emergency response vehicle and BRINC’s industry-first, integrated two-way communications enable first responders to communicate with swimmers in distress and provide guidance and reassurance."

A standard for Payload Deployment System training and the use of EFDs is currently in development. To learn more about what it means to adopt and utilize these solutions, visit: https://brincdrones.com/responder-station/