In critical situations such as search and rescue (SAR) missions, fires or accidents at sea, every second counts. The speed and efficiency of the systems that support SAR teams are crucial to the success of these operations.
The Lifeseeker aeronautical cell phone location system is based on the premise that cell phones are the most widespread beacon in the world. This multi-channel system has demonstrated that simultaneously operating and deploying different communication cells has a significant impact on the time required and the probability of successfully completing a SAR mission. In addition to mission success, reducing the average mission time brings key benefits:
Fast and accurate detection and geolocation:
A multi-channel system can accurately detect and geolocate cell phones faster than a single-channel system, thus increasing the probability of mission success.
Cost reduction:
By reducing the detection time, the total mission time is also reduced, leading to a reduction in operating costs.
Fuel savings: Less mission time means less fuel consumption. For example, a Bell 429 helicopter consumes approximately 145 kg of fuel per hour (2.4 kg/min). Reduced mission time means less fuel required, which also reduces the weight of the aircraft.
Environmental impact:
Reducing fuel consumption not only lowers costs, but also reduces the environmental impact of operations.
Flexibility in complex environments:
In electromagnetically challenging scenarios, such as urban environments with a high density of commercial communication cells, having a multi-channel system allows for greater flexibility and adaptability to optimize system configuration and detect the target phone.
Although multichannel systems may slightly increase weight and power consumption, the advantages they offer far outweigh these disadvantages. The results obtained with these systems are not comparable to those of other single-channel mobile location systems.
Employing systems with multichannel configuration, such as Lifeseeker, offers significant advantages that make a difference in SAR missions. Their ability to detect and geolocate cell phones more quickly, efficiently and accurately not only increases the likelihood of success, but also reduces operational costs and environmental impact. The benefits of these multi-channel systems are unparalleled, making systems such as Lifeseeker the ideal choice for critical operations.
