Search and rescue drones: thermal cameras and payloads for missing persons

This category brings together search and rescue drones and payloads built for one mission: finding a missing person, reaching them and guiding ground teams. Thermal cameras for day and night search, spotlights to light the area, speakers to talk to the person, drop systems and winches to deliver a survival kit, and mobile phone localisation systems reserved for authorised agencies.

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Search and rescue drones: how they help find missing persons

When searching for a missing person, a drone covers in minutes areas a ground team would need hours to sweep: slopes, woods, riverbeds, fields. The thermal camera highlights body heat against the background, the zoom confirms the find without descending, and the laser rangefinder returns the coordinates of the target for the teams. At night thermal search remains effective, and a spotlight lights the area for the approach.

Thermal drones and search sensors

Official DJI data	DJI Matrice 4T	DJI Zenmuse H30T
Type	compact drone with integrated cameras	payload for DJI Matrice 400 and Matrice 350 RTK
Thermal camera	640 × 512, up to 1280 × 1024 with Super Resolution	1280 × 1024
Visible cameras	24 mm wide, 70 mm medium tele and 168 mm tele, all 48 MP	34× hybrid optical zoom (7.1-172 mm)
Laser rangefinder	up to 1,800 m	3 to 3,000 m
Endurance or protection	up to 49 minutes flight time (no payload, no wind)	IP54

DJI Matrice 4T: quick to deploy, with dedicated accessories such as the AL1 spotlight and AS1 speaker. Available in the DJI Matrice 4T + STS-01EU Combo and in the DJI Matrice 4 series category.
DJI Zenmuse H30T on Matrice 350 RTK or Matrice 400: high-resolution thermal sensor and long zoom for wide-area searches, with room for additional payloads. Available as the DJI Zenmuse H30T kit with case and on the DJI Matrice 400 platform.
Ready-to-fly missing person kits: Missing Search and Surveillance Combo DJI Matrice 350 + Zenmuse H30T, DJI Matrice 30T Missing and Video Surveillance Combo and the other kits in the Video Surveillance and Search Missing combos category.

SAR payloads for missing persons

Lighting: the spotlights in the Spotlight category, for night approach and to guide teams.
Voice communication: speakers in the Speaker category to give instructions to the person found, keep them still and reassure them until rescuers arrive.
Survival kit delivery: Smart Winch with Speaker for DJI Matrice 400 and Delivery Dropping Kit with speaker for Matrice 350 to lower or drop radios, thermal blankets, water or a first aid kit.
Mobile phone localisation: the life seeker system for DJI Matrice 400 helps locate the missing person's phone. It is reserved for authorised agencies and its use is subject to legal requirements.
Medical emergency: the AE-01 AED auto-install system for DJI Dock 3 brings a defibrillator to the scene while responders are on the way.
Link in difficult terrain: the DJI Range Extender Mobile helps keep the video link in valleys and shielded areas.

How a drone SAR mission works

Alert and briefing: last known position, person profile, weather, airspace constraints.
Takeoff and search: grid patterns or likely routes, thermal camera in search mode and live video to the command post.
Confirmation: zoom on the hot spot, laser rangefinder distance and target coordinates.
Contact: speaker to talk to the person, spotlight to light the area at night.
Support: drop or lower a survival kit while rescuers are on the way.
Team guidance: the drone stays overhead as a visual reference and sends the updated position.

Search and rescue or public security?

This category is dedicated to searching for missing persons and first response from the air. Systems for law enforcement and site security, such as drone detection and counter-drone, drone-in-a-box and battery logistics, are in the Public Security category. For heavier loads to isolated areas see DJI Delivery.

Search and rescue drone FAQ

What is the best drone for search and rescue?

It depends on the team. DJI Matrice 4T is compact and quick to deploy; DJI Matrice 350 RTK or Matrice 400 with Zenmuse H30T offer a higher-resolution thermal camera, long zoom and the option to carry a spotlight, speaker or drop system.

Can a thermal drone find a person at night or in woods?

The thermal camera detects the temperature difference between body and background and works in darkness. Dense vegetation, rain and warm surfaces reduce contrast, so search patterns, suitable altitudes and zoom confirmation are combined.

How are coordinates passed to ground teams?

With the laser rangefinder the drone measures the distance to the framed point and calculates the target coordinates, which the pilot passes to the command post or ground teams.

How do you talk to the person found?

With a drone-mounted speaker. According to DJI, the AS1 speaker for Matrice 4 reaches 114 dB at 1 m with an effective broadcast distance of 300 m.

Can a drone deliver a rescue kit?

Yes, with a drop system or smart winch you can lower radios, thermal blankets, water or a first aid kit, within the drone payload and the operational authorisation.

What is a drone life seeker?

A system that helps locate the mobile phone of a missing person. It is intended exclusively for authorised agencies and its use is subject to applicable legal requirements.

Which rules apply to drone SAR operations?

State agency operations follow dedicated rules. Volunteer associations and civil operators follow Regulation (EU) 2019/947 in the Open or Specific category depending on the mission; dropping material requires the Specific category.

Tell us how your team operates and we will propose the right drone, sensor and payloads, plus training to use them. Phone +39 0541.1790411.

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