A team of engineering students in Chennai has designed a drone which can carry a first-aid box to an accident spot before an ambulance or rescue vehicle could reach. Doctors say almost half of the road accident victims can be saved if they are provided first aid and treatment within the golden hour, the first hour after the accident. On an average, it takes 13 to 15 minutes for an ambulance to reach the accident spot in Tamil Nadu. In cities, however, traffic snarls can hold up ambulance vehicles; in rural areas, the condition of roads can affect the response time.
it becomes virtually impossible for an ambulance to reach the spot by road, said students of St Peters Institute Of Higher Education and Research, Avadi, who have designed the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). “The drone works on GPS,” said S Parvez Basham one of the team members. “The drone can carry a first-aid box weighing 8kg and fly at up to 70kmph. The prototype can be remotely controlled for up to 3km, and the team is working on a model capable of being controlled for a longer distance, said project guide M Yuvaraj.
The drone is designed keeping in mind that there may not be a doctor or a paramedic at the accident spot. “The drone has an interactive display that can play out videos explaining the kind of first aid to be given for various types of accidents and injuries,” said S Samraj, another team member. Survivors or passersby can select the appropriate option and be guided.
The upcoming automated version of the drone will have enhanced features which will avoid collision with birds, insects, and airborne objects.
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