Norwegian Arctic SAR Unit chooses Atlas search and rescue Unmanned Aerial System
Atlas Aerospace, a global leader in autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operating in the U.S., U.K. and EU, announced it has been chosen as a UAS provider for the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPAID) Search and Rescue (SAR) Mid-Troms unit, due to its unique capabilities in extreme conditions.
The NPAID Mid-Troms unit is a volunteer SAR unit operating in northern Norway specializing in first response and lifesaving operations in extreme Arctic environments. The unit covers a region of Arctic Norway famous for its sparsely populated mountain ranges and Fjords. The NPAID team ensures the safety of tourists in the region, especially as adventure tourism continues to increase.
As a highly sophisticated and professional task force, NPAID Mid-Troms is an early adopter of new technologies and its project team is constantly seeking tools aimed at optimizing SAR operations. The team selected Atlas as its UAS provider and uses the AtlasPRO in its missions. Due to its unsurpassed capabilities and reliability, the AtlasPRO is transforming SAR operations in extreme Arctic conditions.
Atlas redefines “man-unmanned teaming” with its robust UAS solutions, designed to be a force multiplier for first responders on the ground. The solutions enable consistent lifesaving operations in extreme conditions, including Arctic weather scenarios. The AtlasPRO drone can operate autonomously, enabling the operator to focus solely on search and rescue, and is being used by different SAR forces in NATO countries.
“Working on lifesaving operations in extreme environments means that every minute counts. Our volunteers require a unique set of skills, but also the best working tools that can deliver fast and accurate results through every mission and challenge, especially during cold temperatures and the winter darkness period, at remote sites and off-grid no-connectivity locations,” said Kenneth Brattli Molund, unit leader and RPAS project SAR technology integration manager at NPAID in Mid-Troms. “We have chosen the AtlasPRO for its ability to withstand and deliver unique sensor setups and operate in harsh conditions, and also due to Atlas’ capabilities as a technology design-house, that allow us to dream bigger and co-design better, faster and safer SAR solutions.”
Atlas’ award-winning MESH communication capabilities allow users to operate several UAVs in tandem from one control station, enabling hours of consistent surveillance over a point of interest in a BVLOS scenario. This provides comprehensive situational awareness for team members on the ground using multi-stream capabilities to numerous smart devices. These capabilities result in greater cost-effectiveness for defence and SAR units across the globe.
“We are proud that our technology is changing SAR paradigms and assisting NPAID Mid-Troms’ professional volunteers in these lifesaving operations,” said Ivan Tolchinsky, founder and CEO at Atlas. “By enabling a robust drone that provides consistent data in every terrain or weather condition, the AtlasPRO fulfills our company vision to save lives.”
Later this year, Atlas and NPAID Mid-Troms are scheduled to reveal a new product that will change the paradigm of avalanche SAR operations and will enable UAS capabilities that have never been used before.
