Two men in their 20s were rescued from Kosciuszko National Park after an AI-powered drone located them [1].
The operation marks the first time the New South Wales Fire and Rescue (FRNSW) AI detection system was used for a people-search rescue. This deployment demonstrates how artificial intelligence can reduce the time required to find missing persons in rugged terrain.
The hikers went missing on Tuesday after veering off a walking track [1]. Rescue teams deployed the drone, which utilizes thermal imaging and AI to scan the landscape for human heat signatures [1], [2].
The system located the two hikers within five hours [2]. The men were found approximately half a kilometre [1] off the designated track.
FRNSW officials said the technology allowed for a more rapid search of the national park's dense environment. By automating the detection of heat signatures, the AI system minimizes the risk of human error during visual scans of the terrain [1], [2].
“The operation marks the first time the New South Wales Fire and Rescue AI detection system was used for a people-search rescue.”
The successful integration of AI and thermal imaging into FRNSW operations suggests a shift toward automated surveillance in search-and-rescue missions. By reducing the time to locate victims from days to hours, these tools increase the probability of survival in harsh environments and reduce the physical risk to rescue personnel during ground searches.
