Rich Gatanis, a Southern Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter with nearly 15 years of experience and drone pilot, uses unmanned flight to give first responders an advantage. Now, in conjunction with ROBRADY design, Gatanis and Southern Manatee are helping take firefighting to a whole new level with the help of unmanned drones. Gatanis approached ROBRADY design to partner in the development of his concept. The current version has been 3D-printed, delivered and will undergo a new battery of tests to simulate the demanding conditions of real-world disasters. When fully realized, the bracket will be rugged enough to carry sensitive detection equipment into danger zones, but light enough to allow drones to operate properly, even when carrying the extra weight of a lighting rig for nighttime use. Since the data, whether from an overturned tanker truck or blazing wildfire, is gathered by unmanned drones, it keeps first responders out of harm’s way whenever possible. And, for those times when first responders must enter the belly of the beast, this unprecedented level of situational intel lets them know what they’re getting into before they get into it. The time saved by knowing exact crisis conditions and the equipment needed is invaluable for safely improving response times. This life-saving innovation, developed locally in Sarasota, has wide-ranging implications for emergency operations on a national, even global, stage.

ROBRADY Design