How Land Rover plans to save lives with their new 4×4 Discovery model

LAND Rover have just revolutionised the way in which disaster relief operations can be conducted in order to maximise the chance of survival for victims.

Unveiling their latest adaptation on the Discovery 4x4 at this year's Geneva Motor Show, the British manufacturer produced their intelligent design, custom rescue vehicle with a built-in drone.

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Designed specifically for use by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, the vehicle will allow search and rescue crews access to disaster sites previously inaccessible or unsafe for direct human intervention.

Built into a sliding hatch on the roof, the drone can be launched using a touch-screen tablet from inside the vehicle while the car is in motion, and is able to re-dock with the use of a magnetic homing device without any human intervention - the first of its kind in the world.

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Manufacturers claim it will be particularly useful in instances of earthquake, avalanche or flood, where live footage can be transmitted to the Red Cross's emergency response teams to allow them to respond quickly and effectively to changes in the disaster zone.

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In the instance where victims are stranded or out of reach of immediate assistance, rescue teams are able to use the drone deploy supplies to those on the ground to provide a better chance of survival in hot spots.

It also has the ability to direct search and sniffer-dog teams to the scene.

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"A fully integrated landing system featuring self-centreing and magnetic retention technology is a world-first that enables the drone to dock when the vehicle is in motion," a spokesperson from Jaguar Land Rover said.

"With the drone airborne, live footage can be transmitted to the Red Cross’s emergency response teams, helping them respond more quickly and effectively to landslides, earthquakes, floods and avalanches.

"Dramatic landscape changes can make maps redundant, which adds to the danger and difficulty of finding and rescuing survivors, so the drone’s bird’s-eye view will allow rescuers to investigate an emergency scene from a safe distance."

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Code-named 'Project Hero', the vehicle was designed by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations division, in keeping with the manufacturer's 63-year partnership with the Red Cross.

After being unveiled in Geneva, the specialist discovery models will begin service in June, at the Austrian Red Cross training centre in Vienna.

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“Land Rover and the team of engineers and designers at Special Vehicle Operations are proud to support the incredible humanitarian work of the IFRC and its members,” John Edwards, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director said.

“The new Discovery is the world’s most capable all-terrain SUV, and Project Hero is the optimum combination of enhanced capability and innovative technology.

We hope to help the Red Cross save more lives in emergency situations.”