What it does
Earthquake Hawk is an autonomous rescue drone system for post-earthquake emergencies. It uses thermal imaging, directional microphones, and terrain scanning to detect trapped survivors.
Your inspiration
Inspired by real rescue delays in major earthquakes, we found that locating survivors in complex terrain remains a major bottleneck. News stories and field interviews revealed the urgency of rapid response within the golden hour. Earthquake Hawk was born to offer a safer, faster and more intelligent search method to support human rescue teams.
How it works
The drone is equipped with thermal sensors, directional microphones, GPS and LIDAR. After a quake, it launches from a mobile base, autonomously scans debris zones, detects heat/sound anomalies, and sends real-time GPS coordinates to the rescue team. It avoids dangerous structures, adapts flight height, and covers large collapsed areas quickly and safely.
Design process
We began by interviewing rescue workers and analyzing disaster reports to identify delays in locating survivors. We built low-fidelity drone models and tested heat/sound sensors in mock debris sites. We iterated on flight paths using simulation software and refined audio recognition through environmental testing. The final design is compact, shockproof, and easy to deploy in urgent conditions. Earthquake Hawk was refined through feedback loops with safety experts and disaster response volunteers.
How it is different
Earthquake Hawk differs from conventional rescue drones in three key aspects: autonomous multi-modal detection, terrain adaptability, and targeted human-centered design. While many existing systems rely on manual piloting or single-mode sensors, Earthquake Hawk uses thermal, audio, and lidar data in combination to detect survivors with high accuracy. Its foldable frame and shock-resistant shell make it suitable for quick deployment in unstable ruins. Unlike surveillance drones, this system is built specifically for close-range post-quake search tasks with simplified UI and real-time rescue feedback. The solution was co-developed with first responders and integrates user feedback to optimize navigation, sensor sensitivity, and communication protocol for disaster scenarios.
Future plans
In the future, we plan to improve the drone’s sensor integration and AI-based recognition to better distinguish between humans and background noise. We will collaborate with emergency agencies for large-scale testing in simulated disaster zones. Our goal is to build a full system that includes swarm coordination, edge computing for local analysis, and a rapid-deploy rescue kit. We also plan to explore lightweight manufacturing to enhance portability and affordability for use in developing regions.
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