We are developing the world’s first compact, autonomy‑enabled emergency response aircraft that can be safely and simply flown by first‑responders. The unmanned flyer is designed to reach tight or inaccessible locations—such as narrow streets, dense brush, or rugged terrain—faster than traditional helicopters, reducing response times and operational costs.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
First responders often cannot reach victims or deliver supplies quickly because traditional helicopters are too large, expensive, and require skilled pilots, while ground access may be blocked by traffic, narrow streets, dense vegetation, or rugged terrain.
Solution
GoAeroPrize is developing a compact, autonomy‑enabled emergency response aircraft that can be operated safely by first‑responder personnel without specialized piloting skills. The unmanned flyer combines lightweight airframe design with advanced obstacle‑sense‑and‑avoid sensors, real‑time state estimation, and behavior‑management algorithms to navigate autonomously in confined or hazardous environments. By reducing the need for a dedicated pilot and minimizing operational costs, the system aims to provide rapid aerial access to locations that are inaccessible to conventional helicopters. The aircraft is intended to transport medical supplies, rescue equipment, or personnel directly to the point of need, thereby shortening response times and expanding the reach of emergency services. Support from NASA, RTX, and Honeywell underpins the platform’s reliability and safety standards for critical missions.
Target Audience
Primary customers are municipal fire departments, emergency medical services, and disaster‑response agencies that require rapid aerial support in urban, suburban, and wilderness environments.
Features
- Compact airframe sized to operate in narrow streets, dense brush, and rugged terrain where helicopters cannot fly
- Fully autonomous navigation stack with obstacle‑sense‑and‑avoid, real‑time state estimation, and behavior‑management algorithms
- Simple user interface designed for operation by non‑pilot first‑responder personnel
- Lightweight construction that lowers acquisition and operating costs compared with traditional rotorcraft
- Capability to carry medical supplies, rescue equipment, or small payloads for rapid delivery to incident sites
- Redundant safety systems and fail‑safe flight controls to ensure reliable operation in emergency conditions