Alex Momont - Drones For Good
Alec Momont recently founded Drones For Good, an open platform that is changing the public perception of drones. It is redefining what the technology can do for people and leverage its strengths for the greater good. One of its recent innovations is the Ambulance Drone, a high speed (over 100km/h) UAV that carries critical supplies to any emergency situation. Within minutes after an accident can provide the right care to prevent further escalation and save lives. In case of, for example, cardiac arrest brain death and permanent death start to occur in just 4 to 6 minutes. With the Automated Defibrillator on board the patient can be shocked to reestablish regular heart rhythm. Other uses include people that are drowning, stroke, diabetes etc. The technology is currently being field tested in Belgium to improve speed and user-machine interaction.
More about the Ambulance Drone:
One of the latest media hypes are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drones, promising a range of possibilities previously unimaginable. They are expected to revolutionize the way we transport things, gather information or automate processes. Yet, drones are still commonly associated with destruction due their usage in clandestine operations by the United States of America. Within this project the focus laid on using drones for a good purpose. One of the search directions was the ambulance drone, which was further developed.
The first minutes after an accident are critical and essential to provide the right care to prevent escalation. Speeding up emergency response can prevent deaths and accelerate recovery dramatically. This is notably true for heart failure, drowning, traumas and respiratory issues. Lifesaving technologies such as an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), medication, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) aids can be designed compact enough to be carried by a drone. For the Ambulance Drone, a new type of frame was developed that is a compact flying toolbox containing essential supplies for (lay-person) advanced life support. Portability and foldability help the drone to be used anywhere, also indoors. The first prototype focuses on the delivery of an Automated Defibrillator (AED). In the European Union around 800.000 people per year suffer from a cardiac arrest, an upsetting number considering that only 8% survives this incident. The main reason for this high number of casualties is the relatively slow response time of emergency services (10 minutes). Brain death and permanent death start to occur in just 4 to 6 minutes.
With the Ambulance Drone, it is possible to deliver defibrillation to any patient in a 12 km2 area within 1 minute. At that speed, survival rates can be as high as 80%. Secondly, the incorporation of a two-way, video supported, communication channel in the drone between 112 operators and the first responders will improve first care. Successful AED usage by lay-persons is currently at 20%. With personalized instructions and communication on the Ambulance Drone, this can be increased to 90%. In short, the Ambulance Drone helps to save lives by extending existing emergency infrastructure with a network of fast and compact UAVs capable of bringing emergency supplies and establishing communication, anywhere.
The Ambulance Drone is the result of Alec’s Master Graduation thesis research project. It aims to save lives through the delivery of emergency supplies within the first minute after an accident. On the 28th of October he presented this project and graduated from the TU Delft with the highest score possible as only the 5th person in 50 years.
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Website – www.alecmomont.com
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