Fire and Rescue New South Wales (NSW) in Australia rescued two lost hikers in Kosciuszko National Park using an AI-powered drone in just 5 hours.
The hikers, stranded in the dark, used the red light of their mobile phone to attract the drone's attention. The drone located them using a thermal imaging system and AI software.
Crews communicated with the hikers via the drone's speaker and guided ground teams to their location. The rescue operation marked the first successful mission by NSW Fire and Rescue using an AI-integrated drone.
NSW Fire and Rescue Inspector and Alpine Region District Duty Commander Philip Eberly said AI technology reduced rescue time from days to hours. Eberly said, "Drones help find missing people faster and reduce risk for rescue teams. Shortening search time in mountainous terrain helps volunteers and families reunite quickly."
Eberly also noted that with advancing technology, drones could be used for tasks like dropping emergency supplies and rations remotely.
How did the drone find the hikers?
The drone used in the rescue was equipped with AI algorithms and advanced sensors. Two of its four cameras were infrared thermal cameras. The AI analyzed thousands of images in real time to detect moving objects such as people, vehicles, boats, or animals, and sent instant alerts to operators.
After identifying the location of the two missing hikers, the AI zoomed in the thermal camera to confirm the detection. This allowed ground teams to be directed straight to the spot.
Experts say this rescue operation shows that AI technologies are moving beyond chatbots or office automation in the public sector, entering a more mature adoption phase.
