Firefighting drone has been "Smart Eye" of Disaster scene, dispatched more than 10 times in 5 years

The number of dispatch of "Smart Eye" fire drones to accident sites has risen to 294 times, including 167 fire sites and 127 rescue sites last year, recording an increase of more than 10 times in five years, from 27 in 2016 to 294 in 2021

The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on January 20 that the drones’ operational performance over the past six years.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters, a total of 1,680 fire drones have been operated over the past six years since 2016, followed by 775 dispatches to the accident site, 699 other training, and 206 mountain patrols. In particular, the number of dispatched to the accident site increased more than 10 times in five years from 27 in 2016 to 294 in 2021.

Last year, a total of 294 times, including 167 fire sites and 127 rescue sites, were operated at the accident site, more than doubling from 136 times in 2020.

The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters launched two drones for education and training in 2015 and has continued to reinforce drones for on-site dispatch. It is currently operating a total of 40 firefighting drones.

In 2018, a drone simulation training center with six 120-inch curved screens was built at the Seoul Firefighting School to train fire-fighting drone experts.

Through this, it is continuously training the drone management skill improvement to understand the flight approval procedure and prevent crash accidents. Currently, there are 105 experts who have drone operation certificates in the Seoul Fire Department.

Through the fire drill specialist training system and on-site management know-how, the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters ranked first at the national drone competition held in October 2021.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters plans to introduce additional drones to replace old drones in the future and to arrange them equally in 25 fire stations in Seoul.

“The firefighting drone is being used to carry out effective lifesaving operations at various accident sites,” said Choi Tae-young, head of the fire and disaster department at the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters. “We will continue to make full use of high-tech technology to ensure citizens’ safety.”

Reported by Smart City Today