Marine Firefighters of Marseille Test the Elios 2 for Ship Rescues
Marine Firefighters of Marseille Test the Elios 2 for Ship Rescue Operations
The Marine Firefighters of Marseille recently conducted a trial with the Elios 2 drone to enhance their ability to investigate accidents and prepare for rescues on boats. This test aimed to improve situational awareness and safety during ship operations.
Key Benefits at a Glance
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Safety Gathering visual and location data about a ship before entering it can significantly improve firefighter safety and help them understand the situation without needing to go inside immediately. |
Performance Flying a drone inside a ship presents challenges such as signal interference, stabilization, and collision risks. The Elios 2 not only met these challenges but also exceeded expectations in performance. |
Access The Elios 2 was able to navigate all parts of the ship, allowing firefighters to collect critical visual data from every corner needed for a full assessment. |
Introduction
When the Marine Firefighters of Marseille are called to assist a distressed boat, they often have limited information about what’s happening inside the vessel. In a short time, they must decide whether to board the ship to save lives or prevent further damage. The biggest challenge is knowing where to focus their efforts.
Customer Needs
The firefighters currently use two outdoor drones to get an overview of what’s happening outside a distressed ship. However, they lack detailed visual data about the interior. To increase safety and situational awareness before boarding, they wanted to test an indoor drone that could livestream footage while keeping personnel safe off the ship.
This real-time data would help firefighters determine if boarding is necessary and where to prioritize their actions once onboard. Testing an indoor drone allowed them to evaluate its capabilities in key areas:
- Signal strength
- Stability during flight
- Collision tolerance
- Battery life
Solution
The Marine Firefighters chose Flyability’s Elios 2 for testing. Its protective cage allows it to safely fly in tight spaces, even when it collides with walls or ceilings. The test took place on a cruise ship designed for up to 181 passengers, offering a realistic environment with multiple decks, engine rooms, and complex layouts.
The ship had nine decks, including five cabin levels and two engine rooms, making it a perfect setting for evaluating the drone's performance in challenging conditions.
Results
The test with the Elios 2 was a complete success. From outside the ship, the pilot was able to fly the drone throughout the entire vessel, collecting valuable visual data on different sections.
"[Innovations] The marine firefighters had the chance to test an 'indoor' drone aboard one of Cie Ponant's ships. This drone can model inaccessible and confined spaces to facilitate interventions on ships and boats." – @MarinsPompiers
Here's how the Elios 2 performed against the four main criteria:
1. Signal Strength
On the lower decks, signal strength was strong enough to allow full inspection of one engine room and part of a corridor. Even two decks underwater, the signal remained stable, though it was lost when a watertight door closed between the drone and the pilot. This distance was more than sufficient for their needs.
On the passenger decks, the signal was much stronger, allowing the pilot to inspect two full decks over three levels from outside the ship.
2. Stability
The Elios 2 maintained excellent stability throughout the flights, even in complex environments like the engine rooms. It handled obstacles and tight spaces with ease, meeting all the firefighters’ requirements.
3. Collision Tolerance
During the test, a sudden gust of wind caused the drone to hit a pillar. Despite this, the Elios 2 continued flying without crashing or sustaining any damage, showcasing its robust design.
4. Battery Life
Battery life was not an issue during the test. The firefighters were able to collect all the required visual data using the drone’s ten minutes of flight time, supported by multiple batteries.
[Related read: Is Ten Minutes of Flight Time Enough?]
Conclusion
For the Marine Firefighters of Marseille, the test with the Elios 2 was a clear success. The drone performed exceptionally well, especially on the lower decks, where it gathered critical data that will help improve safety and efficiency in future marine fire rescue missions.
Now, the team is working on next steps and plans to make a decision on how to integrate indoor drone technology into their standard procedures. With the proven capabilities of the Elios 2, the future of maritime firefighting looks more efficient and safer than ever before.
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