The design brief, operating requirements, and research behind R₀.
The problem
Emergency crews often have to make decisions before they can see the full scene. Dispatch reports cannot show blocked routes, hazards, or where people may be. A single live camera feed gives a useful view but little sense of depth or the surrounding layout. Responders need information that arrives quickly and helps them understand the space.
Proposed approach
R₀ is planned as an operator-controlled, high-speed drone with a single FPV camera. Its video would stream to a ground computer running monocular SLAM to estimate camera motion and build a 3D landmark map. The pilot would retain a low-latency live view, while the map could give responders a better sense of the scene. Simulation, bench tests, and flight tests will guide the design.
Design requirements
The design targets 100 mph capability and around 30 minutes of flight. It would travel to the site in a horizontal fast-flight state, then transition upright to hover and move slowly while the FPV camera captures the surroundings.
The ground computer would process video from the calibrated FPV camera as the operator moves slowly around the scene. Views from different positions help reconstruct depth; a measured reference would establish scale during testing.
Precedent programs
The first drone-as-first-responder program in the United States, launched in 2018. Drones fly from fixed sites to emergency calls and stream live video to officers and dispatchers.
A purpose-built 911 response drone that launches from a robotic charging station and streams live video as it arrives.
Skydio X10 uses multiple navigation cameras and visual-inertial odometry to understand its surroundings. Its vision system offers a broader reference for R₀’s scene-mapping goal.