Whether it’s a forest fire, traffic accident or natural disaster – every second counts in an emergency. Under the leadership of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Vodafone, Frequentis and the Rostock Fire Brigade have tested the use of automated drones immediately after an emergency call for the first time in the ADELE project.
The 5G-supported drones automatically take off to the emergency site and send high-resolution live images to the control centre – even before the emergency services arrive. This allows situation reports to be created at an early stage, decisions to be made more quickly and valuable time to be gained.
The DLR is responsible for system architecture, drone technology and flight planning, Vodafone provides 5G real-time transmission via DroNet, and Frequentis connects the systems to the control centres. The Rostock Fire Department is testing the real-world operation.
The exercise scenario on 23 September 2025 in the Rostock area showed that digital air support can significantly reduce response times in rescue operations.
Further information can be found on the DLR website.
(Image source: AI-generated)