Through the modification and new arrangement of already available technologies, the EUFOS project creates an innovative solution to develop a new product. This holds great potential, especially in the environment of BVLOS drone use, to realize new areas of application in the professional sector - a goal that could not be achieved so far due to conventional technology.

The "EUFOS" project aims to enable the use of unmanned drones by firefighters, police, rescue workers and service providers.

A complete package is being developed, consisting of drones with special sensor technology and suitable control software, tailored for:

• Police, fire and rescue services
  • to shorten the time required to initiate necessary rescue measures
• Service companies
  • to increase the security of critical infrastructure, e.g. airports
• traffic monitoring
  • to increase safety and efficiency in road traffic

Customers should be able to use the "product" immediately without additional measures or investments, taking into account their needs and requirements.

Part of the project is the creation of a detailed documentation, which shows how companies can use and offer out-of-sight drone flights in the future in a legally compliant manner, in accordance with standards and regulations. As an example, the project will show under which conditions companies in Lower Saxony can become operators of drones beyond visual range.

Drones, i.e. unmanned, remote-controlled flying objects, have been part of our lives for several years. Initially limited to military applications, developments in electronics and miniaturization, but also in 3D printing, have made it possible to use drones in the public and private sectors as well. Hobby drones for taking pictures and videos are now standard products.

However, there are still areas in which drone use is desirable but could not yet be implemented in the planned form due to technical and licensing restrictions. The public sector in particular should be mentioned here, i.e. police forces, rescue services and fire departments. In addition, there are service providers offering monitoring of industrial plants and safety-critical infrastructure, as well as traffic monitoring and control.

The reason for this is quickly explained: while the aforementioned hobby drones legally require remote control on sight and are therefore equipped with short-range communication methods (WLAN or proprietary methods), meaningful use in the professional sector requires drone flight beyond visual line of sight ("BVLOS") so that the drone can provide meaningful supplementary information in a timely manner.

Drones available today can be equipped with different types of sensor technology to optimally provide the required information when detecting situations or conditions.