New Helium-Filled Balloons Locate Disaster Victims

Tethered balloons developed in Israel can locate people trapped under meters of rubble from their cell phone.

They process and transmit the signal to a ground unit, which calculates and displays a 3D geo-location of the cell phone in natural disasters, terrorist incidents and combat zones. 

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), together with video surveillance company RT, have developed the helium-filled balloon – or aerostat – which floats at 1,500 meters above the ground.

The new Skystar ResQCell can be carried by a team of two in backpacks, or by any vehicle. It can operate in both heavily-damaged urban sites, as well as in open areas affected by hurricanes and floods.

Adi Dulberg, VP & General Manager of IAI, said: “This life-saving solution can track and locate the exact location of a missing person, during any disaster.

“The comprehensive solution revolutionizes disaster response and delivers a detailed picture of missing or trapped people and rescue teams, by accurately geo-locating their cellular phones. 

“Because time is a significant component when a disaster occurs, the system can be deployed in minutes and provide rescue forces with a long-endurance, highly-effective and easy-to-use, lifesaving solution.”

CEO of RT Aerostat Systems, Rami Shmueli, said: “Partnering with IAI ELTA has helped us bring a precision lifesaving system to the emergency services sector, especially after the recent earthquakes in Turkey.

“We are happy and proud to be partnering with IAI ELTA, which has led to the development of this important system. 

“The integration of our systems has created an advanced solution that enables situational awareness, rapid response, and access to any disaster area. We believe this solution will be able to greatly assist rescue teams around the world.”