React faster in an emergency

ViRL - The virtual rescue control centre

In emergencies of any kind, every second counts for both the victims and the rescuers. In addition to the first aid provided by fellow citizens, a crucial aspect is the time it takes to get to the scene and the number of emergency services dispatched by the control centre.

The control centre currently relies on verbal descriptions from the first responders present when selecting the resources and numbers. These can be inaccurate or incomplete, which is why the deployment scenario, the required resources and the exact location of the accident site are usually unknown or insufficiently described until the emergency services arrive.

Together with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), we have looked into the question of how the information situation at accident scenes can be improved by using video rescue drones before the first rescue teams arrive.

By using ViRL as a mobile control centre in addition to the classic deployment scenario, it is possible to obtain a significantly faster and more precise overview of the accident situation. A better assessment of the situation is therefore already possible during the approach and important decisions, such as requesting additional resources, can be made at an early stage.

How does ViRL work?

In contrast to the virtual rescue coordination centre, a real rescue coordination centre receives emergency calls and so-called eCalls and deploys rescue services, fire brigades, technical relief organisations, police and other emergency services. It decides which resources need to be deployed and which other control centres (e.g. disaster control) still need to be notified.

ViRL, on the other hand, integrates video drones into the operational scenario and consists of two components: The first component is a background service that implements all the mobile functionalities required by a rescue control centre. The second component is an app that is used as a display medium for the virtual rescue coordination centre. It receives conventional calls and eCalls from the real rescue coordination centre, processes live streams and can transmit deployment orders via push-to-talk communication with the drone pilot.

Two live streams (optical and infrared) from the video drone, which is controlled from a separate control centre (drone control centre), are made available to the virtual rescue coordination centre via the 5G service layer . These are subjected to an integrated
object recognition for vehicles, people, warning signs (danger signs, etc.). Live streams from vehicles (front camera) in the vicinity of the scene can also be displayed to the incident command centre. Such vehicles can then be available with ViRL as an additional source of information.

Real-Time Interaction

The Interaction of Video Drone and ViRL

The ViRL acts as a hub and is not near the accident scene at the beginning of the operation (e.g. on the way there), so there is no direct visual contact with the emergency scene or the requested video drone.

The control of the video drone is in turn taken over by a drone pilot in a separate drone control centre, which is neither near ViRL nor the accident site. The operator and also the incident commander interacting with the ViRL has direct access to the drone's onboard camera as well as the camera control (gimbal).

While the drone is scouting the situation at the emergency scene, the video stream from the drone onboard camera(s) is sent via 5G service layer to the ViRL and thus to the incident commander.

Drone Control Centre

Sending drone mission data to the ViRL (geographic coordinates, time).
Planning, control and monitoring of drone flights
Dynamic adaptation of drone flights i.e. adaptation of flight behaviour
Compliance with legal, operational and technical requirements for drone flights

ViRL

The ViRL has no direct influence on the control of the drones (however, the mission commander can communicate via Push To Talk with the drone pilot regarding the flight path)
The ViRL receives temporal and geographical mission data (mission order) from the drone control centre.
The ViRL operator can cause a change in the angle of view of the drone camera (control of the gimbal camera with a touch screen joystick or by tapping the map)
The ViRL operator can initiate situational screenshots by the drone at the scene and manage them in a gallery related to the mission
The ViRL operator receives the position data of the drone.
The ViRL operator receives the livestream of the drone's cameras/sensors.
The ViRL operator receives further perspectives from the operation site through car livestreams

That's why ViRL is the right Software

Lars Kölln, ViRL project manager at WPS, recognises a high demand for software solutions that meaningfully integrate this technology into different life situations in the steadily increasing possibilities that drone technology offers now and in the future:

"ViRL consistently uses the latest technical standards and provides rescue workers with a decisive time and information advantage that can save lives."

Andreas Volkert, project manager at DLR, adds:

"The use of drones will continue to increase in the coming years. It is therefore important that these missions take place in a controlled and safe manner. Together with the WPS, we have succeeded in establishing a prototype application for the coordinated use of lower airspace with the virtual rescue control centre ViRL, with the help of which practical knowledge can be gathered from emergency managers and aid organisations for the further development stages of a solution.

Your contact persons

If you would like to find out more about the ViRL software - the virtual rescue control centre for the representation of emergency situations and the control of drone cameras - please get in touch withour contact persons. We look forward to hearing from you!

Carsten Lill - Contact Hamburg | Holger Breitling - Contact D-A-CH

ViRL - The virtual rescue control centre

How does ViRL work?

Real-Time Interaction

The Interaction of Video Drone and ViRL

That's why ViRL is the right Software

Your contact persons

Your contact persons

Holger Breitling

Member of the Executive Board

Carsten Lill

Managing Consultant