UAS developer and manufacturing company ALTI UAS has launched the ALTI Transition SAR ‘Orange’, which is a search and rescue version of the company’s ALTI Transition VTOL UAS.

Based in the coastal town of Knysna, South Africa, ALTI UAS notes that the ALTI Transition SAR ‘Orange’ is being launched following some of the worst fires in South African history, which recently effected the area.

Designed for search and rescue missions, the new ALTI Transition SAR ‘Orange’ is a specific version of the ALTI Transition UAS, the company explains. Described as compact, rapid, smart, and advanced, the UAS includes a unique vibration damping mount for the combustion engine, allowing it to fly up to 12 hours per flight, with a range of 900 kilometers.

“The new ALTI Transition SAR ‘Orange’ has been designed specifically for search and rescue missions and can capture precise, detailed footage and information from above, along with thermal cameras allowing fire crews to see through smoke, see exactly what the fire is doing, where hot spots are and the ability to quickly and effectively relay this information to the right people,” explains Duran De Villiers, owner & director at ALTI UAS.

Another advantage that the UAS provides, De Villiers says, is the ability to fly when it’s too dangerous for manned aircraft to fly. De Villiers notes that a local firefighting helicopter pilot died during the recent fires in Knysna, so he is hoping that the company's technology can help prevent similar tragedies like this going forward.

“If we can assist in preventing further losses with our technology, then only are we doing our job,” De Villiers says.

Some of the differences between the ALTI Transition SAR ‘Orange’ and the ALTI Transition VTOL UAS are the bright orange Search and Rescue color scheme on the new version of the UAS, as well as the disaster specific payload integration that makes the UAS ideal for firefighting support and post-disaster management and damage assessment.

Being that the ALTI Transition SAR ‘Orange’ is based on the ALTI Transition VTOL UAS, the ALTI Transition SAR ‘Orange’ doesn’t need additional equipment such as a catapult or landing strip, allowing search and rescues to launch instantly from just about anywhere. The UAS also supports a variety of payloads, and has a capacity of up to 1.5 kilograms.

With its ability to support emergency rescue operations by capturing detailed footage from above, the ALTI Transition SAR ‘Orange’ facilitates the ability of fire crews to perform supply drops, locate trapped victims, and survey, record and analyze terrain.

Additionally, the UAS is designed for every day, all day operation with a low hourly operation cost of just $3.50.

“The ALTI Transition drastically cuts down on expenses, keep rescuers safe by doing most of the dangerous work, and ultimately speeds up all efforts related to the entire rescue,” De Villiers says. “After all, every second counts in these types of situations.”