Autonomous Detection and Geolocalization of Targets Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have demon-strated remarkable potential in remote sensing and land sur-veying, making them indispensable in Search and Rescue (SAR) missions worldwide. Numerous incidents have reported the use of drones to search for targets such as missing persons or stranded vehicles. Traditionally, these missions involve manually controlled drones with live video transmission systems, requiring rescue per-sonnel to identify and locate targets manually. Other approaches involve the use of photogrammetry, which is computationally expensive and requires significant amount of time before yielding results. These approaches can be cumbersome and inefficient in time-critical situations. This research proposes a solution utilizing low-cost drones capable of autonomously surveying areas to search for lost targets, such as missing persons or vehicles, and acquiring their geographical coordinates which are then mapped using a Graphical User Interface (GUI) both in real-time and offline. The proposed autonomous system aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of UAVs in SAR operations, providing rapid and accurate situational awareness, thereby improving response times and mission success rates.