Summary: This proposal serves to augment the efforts of first-responders via a network of drones in the 5 boroughs of New York City (NYC) to account for the response time for first-responders. NYC Traffic and the location of precincts, medical facilities, and a lack of first-responders nearby, may hinder first-responders from reaching an area where they are needed in a timely manner. Drones address the aforementioned obstacles with their flight capabilities and various technologies. Medical/Ambulance drones will provide appropriate first-aid materials and guidance by medical professionals until an ambulance arrives. Crime drones, equipped with quality cameras, initiate a search of the area of interest to provide real-time updates on the location of perpetrators and engage in pursuits. Our combined background in UAV/Aircraft/Rotorcraft technology, knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations, and our desire to make NYC a safer place, qualify us to kickstart this drone program. This program requires approximately $7,095,000 to initialize, and an annual cost of $1,950,000.
Introduction
Whether it’s on the news, the Citizen app on mobile devices or articles on the internet, the commonly talked about issue we face in New York City is the response time of medical technicians and police officers, to crimes. Crimes range from robberies and assaults to homicides. It is imperative for efforts that apprehend perpetrators as soon as possible before another is a victim of a crime. On the busy streets of New York City, it is often challenging for law enforcement and ambulances to respond to medical emergencies and crime in a timely manner. Response times vary, depending on the location of the incident, presence of nearby first-responders, traffic conditions, etc. In particular, fiscal year 2022 saw an increase of 1 minute and 4 seconds for the average response time, by the NYPD, to all crimes in progress compared to fiscal year 2021, where the average response time was 11 minutes and 40 seconds (Amparo-Trinidad, et al. 2023). Fiscal year 2022 saw an increase of 43 seconds for the average response time to life-threatening medical emergencies by ambulances compared to fiscal year 2021, where the average response time was 9 minutes and 34 seconds (Amparo-Trinidad, et al. 2023).
Although first-responders are to be quick, an instantaneous response to medical emergencies and crime is ideal. For medical emergencies, each passing minute without first aid may be life-threatening for the injured. For example, with cardiac arrests, survival chances decrease by 10% every passing minute, accompanied by brain damage (Hass, 2022). For crimes, catching a perpetrator immediately contributes to the overall safety of the city through incarceration and public information being shared about the perpetrator. Given that the number of major crimes committed increased drastically as of 2022, it is imperative that efforts be made to address the increase (McCarthy, 2023).
To account for response times, we propose a system of drones equipped with technologies enabling them to immediately respond to the various forms of medical emergencies and crimes/incidents. Once 911 dispatchers receive a report of a medical emergency, a drone equipped with first-aid supplies applicable to the emergency (tourniquet, wound-cleaning solutions, defibrillator, etc.) is dispatched from a nearby drone docking station. The drone provides first-aid materials until an ambulance arrives. When a crime is committed, upon notification by emergency dispatchers, drones equipped with high-resolution, thermal imaging cameras are released from a nearby drone docking station. One drone remains at the crime scene for imaging, while several other drones scout nearby areas for people or objects of interest associated with the crime, such as vehicles or weapons. The proposal only considers the technology that is required to be implemented (such as the drone technology), and other associated requirements (building docking stations and a communication network between the drones and emergency dispatchers). The medical drone will have a live camera monitored by medical professionals, while the crime drone captures videos of crime scenes and engages in pursuit. Political recommendations are beyond the scope of this proposal. Drones may also be referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (U.A.V.). This proposal consists of an overall project description containing detailed descriptions of the crime and medical drones, and an acknowledgement of the challenges to accomplish the proposal. The budget is contained in a separate section after acknowledging challenges and feasibility.
Project Description
Drone docking stations will be stationed above select FDNY stations (see Figure 1) in each borough to maximize coverage and limit vandalism to the docking stations. FDNY stations were chosen due to low levels of vandalism at those locations and to account for the average range of the drones.
Each station provides storage for two medical drones and two crime drones, with each stored drone being charged. After emergency dispatchers receive information about the incident, the dispatchers send an appropriate signal to the nearest drone docking station. The first drone to pick up the appropriate signal is activated, causing its computer to perform a preflight operational check. Data from various sensors on the drone are retrieved and analyzed by the computer. If the operational check fails to detect any discrepancy, the drone is released and travels automatically to its destination. Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology assist in the drone’s navigation toward the location of interest. Navigation is purely autonomous with the aid of artificial-intelligence. After the drone completes its task, it returns to the docking station where it came from.
Medical Drone
The Medical or Ambulance drone contains a storage unit for the placement of the desired medical supplies. An EMT at the drone station inserts the desired medical supplies into the storage unit before flight. Additionally, the Medical Drone has a microphone and speaker for communication between a medical professional and a person at the scene of the medical emergency, guiding a lay-person in providing first-aid (Spires (2020)). The drones are unmanned aerial vehicles, but there is still a human interface through the medical professional who communicates to a victim or bystanders through the drone. This results in hospitals gaining the ability to expand their operations and cover more ground. Medical experts would ordinarily wait at the hospital until the injured individual arrives, which may take a while. However, with the initial attempts with the drone, a victim would have a greater chance of stabilization until they arrive at the nearest hospital. The outcome will ultimately no longer be considered life-threatening, given that medical experts will be monitoring this specific type of drone. Once ambulances arrive, they administer aid as necessary, and then medical experts at the hospital administer further aid as necessary. A distinct advantage of a medical drone in a metropolitan area is the fact that the drone can access the windows of higher floors of a high-rise building (Reynolds (2022)). Otherwise, medical personnel would travel up the high-rise thereby increasing the time it takes to provide assistance.
Crime Drone
Both crime drones at the nearby drone docking station are released upon notification of a crime. One crime drone captures surveillance of the crime scene without physically interacting with it (Ruggeri & Bachmaier, 2022). If applicable, the other crime drone receives information such as the suspect description, vehicle description, and the direction in which the perpetrator fled. Data is continuously shared between the drone and law enforcement. The combination of high-resolution imaging, thermal imaging capabilities, and night-vision technology increase the likelihood of the perpetrator being apprehended. If the drone obtains sight of the perpetrator, the information is transmitted continuously to law enforcement. If the perpetrator enters the territory of a neighboring drone station, a crime drone from the neighboring drone station receives information from the previously intercepting drone and continues the pursuit. If successful, the crime drone provides the distinct advantage of increasing the likelihood of a criminal being apprehended by law enforcement in a short time-period. Otherwise, without the aid of a drone, and depending on the nature of the crime and escape, it would require a combination of security camera video analysis and tips submitted by the public to catch the perpretator provided that initial pursuit attempts fail.
Challenges and Feasibility
New York City possesses one of the most busiest and complex airspaces in the United States (New York Metro Airspace (n.d.). This fact adds an obstacle to drone operation in N.Y.C. airspace. Additionally, drone operation must conform to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 C.F.R.), Part 107. 14 C.F.R. For example, Part 107 requires that before flight, an operational check must be performed on the drone by the remote pilot. However, we proposed a drone that performs an operational check by means of an artificial-intelligence module. Strict adherence to 14 C.F.R. Part 107 or special permission from the F.A.A. is necessary to facilitate drone usage for law enforcement and medical purposes.
To avoid conflicts stemming from concerns associated with drones and surveillance technology, the crime drones will not operate 24/7. Furthermore, the crime drones are not suitable for use in the NYC subway system. Ground-based units are optimal for the NYC subway system but those are beyond the scope of this proposal.
Additionally, adverse weather conditions may impact the drones’ operation. Although the drones’ enclosure may be constructed to prevail against water, wind currents may delay the drone’s arrival time. This challenge may be combatted through a navigation system designed to reach the destination by avoiding areas with high winds. Additionally, a variable pitch rotor control system, similar to those found on helicopters, is an addition that may provide greater control of the drone during harsh wind conditions.
In regards to the medical drone, there may be possible storage issues due to the medications needed to be placed in an appropriate temperature to remain reliable. Given that the drone is designed to be first on scene, the medications will remain useful, but when no emergency is reported, the medications will no longer be of use, therefore increasing the demand. Regardless, the ability to provide aid within the ambulance response time outweighs the setback of medications potentially expiring if the frequency of incidents are not as great. Medical professionals employed at the FDNY stations will ensure that medications are not past expiration date. Additionally, this will be addressed after the testing phase.
Once clearance for drone operation in NYC airspace and building drone-docking stations at the select FDNY stations is obtained, testing will begin with the initial four drones (2 of each kind) per station. Testing will be vital for the performance of the drones’ machine learning algorithms, helping them become more efficient in their tasks. After 1-2 months of testing, it will be determined whether four drones per station is sufficient to account for the frequency of crimes and medical emergencies that occur in NYC over a set period of time. This will also help determine the amount of medicine needed to stock based on figures acquired from testing. It is important to highlight that the drones will not replace first-responders, but rather provide assistance in any way during the time it takes for first-responders to arrive.
Regular maintenance of drones and stations are necessary for continued usage; therefore provisions must be established for that by hiring and training technicians. Additionally, a structured maintenance program promotes overall safety and serves to reduce the chances of a malfunction and a potential drone crash (Drone Preventative Maintenance, n.d.). Insurance is necessary to account for the potential of bodily injury or property damage if a drone were to malfunction and crash. Redundancy of features serves to further promote safety by providing backups.
Budget
| Initial Start Up | |||
| Materials | Cost (US Dollars) | ||
| Per Unit | Per Station (4 Drones + 4 Docks) | Total (42 Stations) | |
| Drone | $15,000 | $60,000 | $2,520,000 |
| Dock | $15,000 | $60,000 | $2,520,000 |
| Labor | $2,500 | $105,000 | |
| Software Development | $500,000 | ||
| Initial Maintenance Cost | $1,950,000 | ||
| Total Initial Start Up Cost | $7,095,000 | ||
| Maintenance | |||
| First Aid Kit Resupply | $150 | $1,150,000 Per Year | |
| Electricity | $250,000 Per Year | ||
| Insurance | $50,000 Per Year | ||
| Software Maintenance | $500,000 Per Year | ||
| Yearly Cost | $1,950,000 | ||
Conclusion
In conclusion, the response time of first responders to medical emergencies and crimes is a significant issue in New York City. It is imperative to find solutions to address these issues in order to the safety and well being of NYC citizens. Every citizen has the right to feel safe whether they are in their homes, workplace, or just out and about. The proposal to utilize drones equipped with technology and supplies to respond to medical emergencies and crimes has the potential to address first-responder response time and improve overall safety of the city.
One of the key advantages of using drones is their ability to navigate through the crowded streets of New York City efficiently. Drones can fly directly to the scene of the incident avoiding any obstacles such as traffic. This can significantly reduce response times, which can mean the difference between life and death in medical emergencies, while also increasing the likelihood of catching perpetrators in crimes.
Additionally, using drones in emergency responses could also help to reduce the risk of injury to first responders. High-risk situations, such as armed robberies or hostage situations, can be dangerous for law enforcement. Using drones equipped with surveillance and monitoring technology could allow law enforcement to gather crucial information about the situation before putting themselves in harm’s way.
Overall, the use of drones in emergency response has the potential to transform the way we approach public safety in urban areas. Although there are some challenges and concerns that need to be addressed, the advantages of this technology are evident.
References
Amparo-Trinidad, J., Coughlin, J., Francese, G., Guerra, K., Ingram, T., Khan, S., Leverone, T., Lormel, J., Quiñones, L., Seamon, C., & Segundo-Lopez, L. (2023). Preliminary mayor’s management report January 2023. In NYC Mayor’s Office of Operations. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/operations/downloads/pdf/pmmr2023/2023_pmmr.pdf
Drone Preventative Maintenance. (n.d.). Fortress UAV. Retrieved April 17, 2023, from https://www.fortressuav.com/preventative-maintenance
Haas, M. (2022, March 14). In Sweden, Drones Are Beating Ambulances to the Scene — and Saving Lives. Reasons to Be Cheerful. https://reasonstobecheerful.world/in-sweden-drones-are-beating-ambulances-to-the-scene-and-saving-lives/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20cost%20of%20a%20drone
McCarthy, C. (2023, February 12). NYC saw record levels of felony crimes last year, most in over 15 years. NY Post. https://nypost.com/2023/02/12/crime-in-nyc-hits-levels-not-seen-since-the-mid-2000s/
New York Metro Airspace. (n.d.). NBAA – National Business Aviation Association. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://nbaa.org/aircraft-operations/airspace/atc-issues-procedures/new-york-metro-airspace/
Reynolds, J. (2022, January 19). What Is an Ambulance Drone? Iris Automation. https://www.irisonboard.com/what-is-an-ambulance-drone/
Ruggeri, S., & Bachmaier, L. (2022). Investigating and preventing crime in the digital era : new safeguards, new rights. Springer.
Spires, J. (2020, May 15). Everdrone delivers defibrillators by drone in Sweden. DroneDJ. https://dronedj.com/2020/05/15/everdrone-delivers-defibrillators-by-drone-to-swedish-residents/
