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Two drones hover above a runway with an emergency response vehicle in the background.
The ARISE program will enhance the drone team capabilities for emergency response scenarios.

OAIRE LaunchPad Center and Drone Response present ARISE program

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Media Contact: Cody Cramer | Associate Director of Communications - The Innovation Foundation at OSU | 405-744-6930 | ccramer@okstate.edu

The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education announced the ARISE Pilot Program in partnership with Drone Response last week.  

ARISE is the latest advancement in autonomous drone swarm technology that will benefit emergency services in Tulsa and beyond. ARISE utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance drone team capabilities for emergency response scenarios. Multiple drones autonomously coordinate and use real-time data integration to analyze the scene and relay information. The information lowers response times and the risks first responders face in emergency situations.  

“Emergency services have come to understand that practices that give them enhanced, real-time situational awareness saves lives,” said William Reh, CEO of Drone Response. “Let’s say there’s a wildfire. First responders might not know who is missing, what lives, vehicles and buildings are at risk. Getting that initial bird’s eye view is key and it helps protect first responders before they go into harm’s way.”  

ARISE can assist with car accidents, missing persons and natural disasters. In addition to analyzing situations, the drones can carry approximately 14 pounds of medical supplies and deliver them to the scene of an emergency. A line is used to slow the drop of supplies and prevent them from being damaged.  

OAIRE LaunchPad Center’s partnership with Drone Response fuels Oklahoma’s growing drone economy. OAIRE was inspired to pursue this partnership by Tulsa’s Tech Hub designation.  

“The LaunchPad Center is about building connections,” said James Spencer Jr., director of Advanced Air Mobility at the LaunchPad Center. “This partnership is the avenue towards the next generation of drones and the pathway to accelerating commercialization.”  

OAIRE Executive Director Dr. Jamey Jacob said startup technology evaluation is one of the primary missions of OAIRE’s LaunchPad Center for Advanced Air Mobility.  

“We were thrilled to support the demonstration at Skyway36 and explore potential uses of ARISE for our drones for first responder programs and how it can help facilitate the public service mission of the Tulsa Fire Department. We are excited about the collaborations with Drone Response and seeing their continued partnerships and development within Oklahoma,” Jacob said.

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