DJI - Experts & Thought Leaders

Sweden's Södra Älvsborgs Rescue Service Association, (SÄRF) has increased its deployment of LiveU's real-time video transmission solutions, adding recording capabilities to create a complete 'live and store' video set-up for situational awareness and use in training scenarios.  This significantly strengthens its decision-making, responsiveness, and preparedness to deal with fires and accidents. Headquartered in Boras, the regional rescue organization runs rescue services in six municipalities, including 25 fire and ambulance stations. LiveU's compact LU300S field encoder LiveU apps and field encoders are used for live transmission enabling real-time situational awareness LiveU's resilient IP-video technology is used for real-time situational awareness, with live video transmitted from the field to SÄRF's headquarters for fire and accident prevention as well as training. The equipment, set-up and support are provided by LiveU's longstanding local partner in Sweden, Entercast. SÄRF has supplied over 200 LU-Smart mobile apps to its rescue crews, most importantly for use by the fire truck operators on their personal smartphones. LiveU's compact LU300S field encoder, used with a DJI Mavic Pro drone operator, is deployed to provide a bird's eye view of major incidents. The LiveU apps and field encoder are used for live transmission enabling real-time situational awareness, response management and resource allocation, and storing for debriefing and analysis. Live feeds are transmitted to the LU2000 server in the HQ control room and displayed on a large 70-inch screen. The data from the live server is also transmitted out to the field, as needed, specifically to the team pioneers. Fire truck phones with the app Niklas Ignell, Fire Safety Manager, SÄRF, said, "It’s often said one picture says more than 1,000 words. We've been using LiveU technology for several years and its reliability, encryption, and ease of use, in particular, are critical advantages. We're now using a complete solution where everyone on the team has the LU-Smart app; the firefighters can simply click two buttons after unlocking their phones to get the video app working." "The teams find it easy to use whether they're technical or non-technical. Our fire truck phones with the app are the ones used most actively in the field. Combined with the cloud service, the video is automatically recorded, and we can then analyze the critical pictures, deleting them when we close the report. The live streams are transmitted instantly into the main control center and the operators can decide quickly if more help and resources are needed." Integrated with the LiveU solution The received encrypted feeds are forwarded to the Vindral platform from the LU2000 server Ignell continued, "Five of our guys are also certified drone pilots so they can operate the LU300S with the drone in major incidents, such as industrial fires. For example, we recently had a fire in a pizzeria and the LiveU unit and the drone were used to ensure that nobody was left inside the building. We also use the drone and LiveU for non-emergency situations, for example, checking the safety of the roofs of large factories and facilities in extreme weather conditions. LiveU has become an important element in our team training and education as well, such as handling situations with chemicals." Entercast also provides a real-time content-sharing platform from its sister company Vindral, integrated with the LiveU solution. The received encrypted feeds are forwarded to the Vindral platform from the LU2000 server. This gives a secure, low latency web page player with a pin number where team members can view the live streams in a browser from any device. Resilient video solutions Paul Shepherd, Channel Sales Director, LiveU, said, "We're increasingly seeing our resilient video solutions used for life-saving public safety applications, enabling emergency teams to respond faster and make informed tactical decisions." "SÄRF is a true innovator with the way that it maximizes its use of our mobile apps and LU300S with the drone. It's very impressive to see how it has expanded its situational awareness capabilities throughout its region using LiveU."

DJI, the world’s renowned company in civilian drones and creative camera technology, is returning to NAB Show 2023 in full force, to give attendees a high-profile, immersive experience with its aerial, handheld, and cinematography solutions. With its complete suite of professional cinema camera stabilizers and drones, as well as its popular consumer and enterprise technologies, DJI invites the public to its newly designed booth to meet the brand like never before. DJI to exhibit at NAB Show 2023 From April 16 to April 19 2023, at the NAB Show 2023, DJI will offer hands-on product demos From April 16 to April 19 2023, at the NAB Show 2023, DJI will offer hands-on product demos, lead interactive workshops, and share its latest innovations, including the chance to be among the first to ever try the newly launched and long-awaited Inspire 3 cinematography drone. “We are excited to attend the NAB Show Centennial and reaffirm our commitment to the US market and DJI users around the globe who trust our products for their first-in-class technology, safety, and reliability,” said Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and Communication at DJI. DJI ecosystem made to transform cinematography Christina Zhang adds, “The spirit of this event is to connect and share ideas that will propel the cinematography industry toward bold new directions. Our goal is to also show visitors that the DJI ecosystem was made to transform cinematography and many other industries, allowing professionals to use our solutions to revolutionize their work and individuals all over the world and turn their imagination into reality.” Experience the world’s Ultimate PRO Technology Guests at the DJI NAB Show 2023 booth can be the first in the world to enjoy hands-on experience with the recently launched Inspire 3 and its all-new features, Zenmuse X9-8K Air gimbal camera system, and RC Pro. Also on display is Ronin 4D, and DJI has created an actual film set – a space station, complete with an on-site actor – so guests can film with the 4-axis cinema camera to understand this ground-breaking technology first-hand. DJI's vehicle mount solutions for Ronin 4D, RS 3 Pro and Ronin 2 DJI is offering vehicle mount solutions for Ronin 4D, RS 3 Pro, and Ronin 2 DJI is offering vehicle mount solutions for Ronin 4D, RS 3 Pro, and Ronin 2 by installing these camera stabilizers onto a sports car right at the booth for visitors to try themselves. Several camera configurations for RS 3 Mini, RS 3 Pro, and RS 3 will allow visitors to experience the wide variety of cameras and lenses that these single-handed gimbals support. Guests can also to try DJI Transmission and DJI Mic for a closer look at the possibilities of an end-to-end DJI solution for every film set. Finally, to show a bit of movie magic in person, a live professional color studio will grade and process DJI footage to show how professionals turn it into a blockbuster scene. DJI – specialist in aerial and on-the-ground imaging technology Whether for professional users or hobbyists, the NAB Show 2023 will showcase how DJI is leading the world of aerial and on-the-ground imaging technology with products, such as Mini 3 Pro, DJI’s latest FPV system Avata, and Osmo Action 3, in order to allow everyone – no matter at what level – to unleash their creativity. Immersive experience with DJI Enterprise Solutions In addition to professional cinematography solutions, DJI will highlight how the company unfailingly supports public safety officers, infrastructure inspectors, wildlife conservationists, and many other users around the world who count on DJI’s enterprise products to perform their tasks more efficiently, more safely, and more reliably. Visitors will be able to learn how the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Series, the DJI Matrice 30, and DJI Matrice 300 Visitors will be able to learn how the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Series, the DJI Matrice 30, and DJI Matrice 300 offer tailor-made solutions for a large number of use cases that benefit society at large. DJI to host a series of workshops In order to learn, create and share, DJI will host a series of workshops from filmmaking experts and DJI’s own team of product managers at the NAB Show. Hollywood aerial cinematographer, Michael Fitzmaurice, the team behind Beverly Hills Aerials and DJI’s Ferdinand Wolf will share the latest advancements in the Inspire 3 and how it will impact the filmmaking process. Award-winning cinematographer - Rodney Charters, Josh Yeo of Make. Art. Now, and DJI’s Paul Pan will also discuss their insights in designing and creating with Ronin 4D. These workshops are completely open to all NAB Show visitors to share the skill and passion of filmmaking. NAB Show 2023 NAB Show 2023 will open its doors for its centennial event at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, from April 16 to April 19, 2023. Visitors can find DJI at Central Hall, Booth Number #C6725, at the NAB Show 2023.

FDIC International 2022 is approaching fast and All Safe Industries will have a double booth in 2022, with a range of equipment from high-end detection technologies to simple hazmat solutions, on display at the exhibition. In 2022, All Safe Industries will be showcasing the FLIR MUVE C360 multi-gas detector attached to the company’s demo DJI Matrice 300 drone. FLIR MUVE C360 multi-gas detector The FLIR MUVE C360 multi-gas detector can be completely integrated with DJI Matrice unmanned aerial systems (UAS), in order to provide real-time continuous monitoring of chemical hazards, while on the move. The sensor block contains 8 sensors and is configured for O2, LEL, CO, H2S, PID, NO2, Cl2, and SO2 gas detection. New to the company’s booth at the FDIC exhibition in 2022 is the G7 line of gas detection from Blackline Safety. Blackline detectors feature innovative direct-to-cloud wireless functionality. G7C multi-gas detector The G7C multi-gas detector is ideal for lone worker or personal monitoring The G7C multi-gas detector is ideal for lone worker or personal monitoring, while the G7 EXO is area monitor that can be used to wirelessly monitor site perimeters, confined spaces, or hazmat incidents. With its robust feature set and rugged construction, the EXO is built to withstand anything Mother Nature can throw at it. Another new product is the OUR Claw and ZMac card from In Our Gear, LLC. OUR Claw was designed to help hazmat technicians interpret results from reagent paper strips in the hot zone and directly communicate these to the entry supervisor. ZMac Card The ZMac Card combines inexpensive detection methodology (chemical test papers) with useful information needed to form a risk-based decision response or action plan. Come by and visit the company’s stand at Booth #1143, at FDIC International 2022 exhibition, to demo the equipment they will have on hand. As always, they will be ready to provide quick customer service and attention to detail that define All Safe Industries. Some products that the company will feature at their booth at FDIC International 2022 include: Honeywell Safety Suite Responder Real-time instrument readings. Map-View for person’s location. On-Screen alarms and alerts. SMS communication. Incident playback. Plume modeling. Event notifications via email & SMS. Blackline Safety Gas Detection Fully-connected personal safety monitors. Configurable with up to 4 sensors and up to 5 gases. SMS messaging and voice calling. Fall, no-motion and missed check-in detection. Assisted-GPS location technology. MUVE C360 Multi-Gas Detector for UAS Drone 8-channel sensor block-including PID, LEL, and 6 other. Preset alarm thresholds to make quicker decisions on-scene. FLIR VueLink App provides plug-and-play control. Analyze, log, and access data in an easy-to-understand visual overlay. ThreatID GLS FTIR Spectrometer Capable of identifying more than 23,000 solids and liquids. Capable of identifying more than 5,000 gases and vapors as low as 25 ppm. 4-meter gas cell. Adaptable to all sample collection methods (Tedlar bags, PID w/ outlet, syringe, etc.). OUR Claw Hazmat Test Paper Card Metal clips make it easy to attach and detach multiple reagent paper strips in the field. Appropriately sized to be taken into the hot zone and be ‘readable’ for the hazmat technician. Uses reagent paper strips to detect chemicals.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is setting the standard for the use of drones in firefighting applications. As one of the first major metropolitan fire departments to have a significant drone program, LAFD has flown more than 175 missions in less than two years, including the Skirball fire that burned the Bel Air neighborhood in December 2017. Since Skyfire Consulting, a drone services and training company, helped LAFD secure a Certificate of Authorization (COA) for the drone program, the agency has established a training regimen, secured new products and equipment and grown their program to 17 licensed pilots and a fleet of nine drones. When privacy worries created a backlash in the community, the LAFD met the concerns head-on and ensured their standard operating procedures (SOPs) addressed any privacy issues. Incorporate Drone Technology LAFD started a Pilots Training and Ground School Course earlier in 2019 A report to the Board of Fire Commissioners in March from LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas outlined the program’s progress. LAFD started a Pilots Training and Ground School Course earlier in 2019 to teach flight skills concepts and legal aspects. LAFD Battalion Chief Richard Fields told the commission the LAFD’s drone program has become a national standard. “We are mentioned in literature, we are mentioned in conferences, we are mentioned across the city family as well as outside agencies,” Fields commented, as reported by NBC4 in Los Angeles. In April, drone technology company DJI announced a Solution Development Partnership with the LAFD to create, test and deploy DJI drones as an emergency response and preparedness tool. The agreement will provide the LAFD with access to new technologies, training and support to incorporate drone technology in its operations. Thermal Imaging Cameras LAFD flies DJI Matrice 600 Series and DJI Phantom 4 Pro drones equipped with visual and thermal imaging cameras that provide real-time video and data transmission to incident commanders. LAFD will continue to use DJI drone technology across a variety of situations including hot-spot identification and aerial mapping to help manage wildfire response, as well as incident response for swiftwater rescues, hazmat operations, and urban search and rescue missions. LAFD will continue to use DJI drone technology across a variety of situations “The LAFD has been working through a pragmatic approach to adopting drone technology for several years, including developing policies and procedures that define clear use case scenarios and building awareness among the general public about the positive life- and property-saving benefits drone technology can provide,” says Fields. “[The partnership with DJI] gives the Department access to developments such as drones equipped with thermal cameras that will give incident commanders a real-time bird’s-eye perspective,” he adds. Complex Urban Environments When considering the benefits of drones, departments of any size can be inspired by LAFD’s example “Combining advanced drone technology with new software tools will help bridge the gap between [the capabilities of] helicopters and [those of] firefighters on the ground, allowing us to address life-threatening situations faster and more effectively than ever before.” The LAFD’s drone program is one of 910 public safety organizations in the U.S. deploying drones for life saving activities, according to the Bard Center for the Study of the Drone (May 2018). “While the LAFD program shows how drones can succeed when operated within expansive, urban areas by a large department, drone technology is valuable to municipalities of any size,” says Romeo Durscher, Director of Public Safety Integration at DJI. “Through our two-way collaboration [with LAFD], we will receive valuable insight into the complexities of deploying drones for emergency situations in one of the most complex urban environments in the nation,” says Bill Chen, Enterprise Partnerships Manager at DJI. When considering the benefits of drones, departments of any size can be inspired by LAFD’s example.

Drones are an important new tool for the fire service and have already proven their ability to save lives. Willingness to embrace drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs]) for fire applications varies widely by department, and it’s not just larger departments that are making the investment. Some smaller departments are investing in drones in a big way, even as some larger departments are reticent. Firefighting Drone Programs Departments may start with a small drone just to “try it out” and to prove its usefulness to upper management. Other departments start with a budgeted amount for their drone program and go from there. According to Matt Sloane, CEO of Skyfire Consulting, the average drone program is around $35,000 to $40,000, which provides drones, thermal imaging, cameras, operation costs – all of it. Drone programs are not covered by Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) grants, however. As little as $1,500 can buy an “eye in the sky” drone (without thermal functionality).  Sloane says the top question he used to get asked by potential customers was “How do I use this thing?” Now the top question is “How do I sell it to my chief?” Sloane has done hundreds of demonstrations of drone technology to fire departments and has never heard anyone say “I don’t see how that would be useful.” In fact, cost justification of drones is easy if you compare the cost with operating a helicopter, the closest alternative to provide comparable information. Sloane says implementing a drone program is equivalent in cost to “between 40 and 50 hours” of operating a helicopter.  “There is still a misperception that drones are toys,” says Sloane. “But people’s lives are being saved so we’re past that stage.” He compares the reception to drones in the fire service to initial resistance to the use of thermal cameras. “Now everyone has one,” he says. A drone can provide a 360-degree view of a single-family house fire within seconds Effectiveness Of Drones In Fire Applications Education is an important element in spreading the word about the effectiveness of drones for fire applications, says Sloane. A fire department might choose to implement a drone program after they experience a situation in which a drone would have been a useful asset. Drones can be helpful for hazardous materials protection, search-and-rescue, and wildfire applications. The value of a drone boils down to providing better information for decision-making. In the case of a hazardous material spill, for example, a drone can provide information much faster than it would take personnel to don hazmat garments to approach an area safely; there is also no risk to life. A drone can provide a 360-degree view of a single-family house fire within seconds. A thermal imaging camera mounted on a drone can provide instant feedback on hot spots and where the fire is moving. Some drones can drop payloads; for example, they can drop a life jacket to a swimmer or a radio to someone who is trapped. Drones can also be helpful in training, providing high-level views to document activity for evaluation after the fact.  Communication with a drone is localized between the drone and the remote control. A smart phone or tablet can be plugged into the drone’s remote to communicate images across the Internet. The remote’s HDMI output also allows a drone’s image to be displayed on a TV monitor. How To Start A Drone Program Skyfire Consulting provides a “one-stop shop” for fire and police departments seeking to start a drone program. The company helps with choosing the right equipment, performs on-site training, guides the department to obtain the needed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorizations, and aids with developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies. Implementation of the average drone program takes three to six months. FAA authorization to fly drones comes in two varieties. Drones can be flown under Part 107 rules for commercial use and for video production. The authorization merely requires passing a 60-question written test with a 70 percent score. The certification is good for two years and allows an operator to fly drones up to 400 feet in line-of-site, and within Class G (uncontrolled) air space. A downside is that the permit assigns liability to the operator (and a waiver may or may not be granted). Departments are buying a variety of drones in combinations of large and small Obtaining A Certificate Of Authorization The second variety of FAA authorization is a COA (Certificate of Authorization), which assigns liability to the department operating the drones. It also allows the department to self-certify their operators, perform training, and operate in some controlled air space if a waiver is granted. Earning a COA is more complicated, but offers benefits, including the ability to train new operators in a department that has turnover. Line-of-sight operation is a requirement for flying any drones. Line-of-sight is typically three-fourths of a mile, and drones are equipped with bright lights and anti-collision lights (visible for three nautical miles). Sloane says the FAA is generally very positive about public safety uses of drones and works with departments to get their drone programs in place. Choosing Between Small And Large Drones A popular drone manufacturer is DJI Technology, which has a dominant share of the consumer drone market. A popular model is the DJI Phantom drones, which provide 35 minutes of flight time and a good camera. For other sensors, something larger is needed. Departments are buying a variety of drones in combinations of large and small. Small drones perform tactical missions and can fly through a window, while larger drones can be equipped with thermal and/or zoom cameras. The price tags on individual drones range from $500 to $30,000 or more. Larry Anderson Editor TheBigRedGuide.com