The UAS and our Dog Teams

As drones are quickly becoming part of our everyday lives, dogs are becoming more exposed to them. However now, dog-drone interactions are starting to work together in the applications of search and rescue operations.

For the Search & Rescue world drones provide a rather safe way to observe the area and look for your missing individual. However like with any operation it also has its draw backs. Should the person be lying concealed in brush or covered by a group of trees for an example? Also coverage can depend on the type of camera used in this operation. Then there is the issue of where should this drown fly to look for our missing person? We may have a point last seen, but still not know the direction of travel. Should we fly North, South, East, or West?

This is an area that working with a good mantrailing dog comes into play. Letting our dog get started and picking up on a direction of travel now give our drone pilot an opportunity to take off and scan the area to see what may be in front of our dog team.

Now you really do have the best of both world working to your advantage. Remember the goal is to find our missing person as quickly as possible. If that is accomplished by a UAS spotting them out in front or a dog finding them hiding in brush, it all is a win for the team!