Ventura Sheriff Fryhoff Announces First UAS for Search and Rescue Operations

Sheriff Fryhoff is excited to announce his agency’s acquisition of the Wingtra RAY Search and Rescue Drone, a leap in technical capability and a valuable tool used exclusively to locate vulnerable lost or missing persons.

The Wingtra RAY is a fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft that can cover vast territory, up to 1,300 acres in a one-hour flight, leading to specific locations of evidence to supplement traditional search and rescue operations. The implementation of such technology not only leads to more actionable clues but greatly increases the odds of a rapid rescue of missing people.   

The Wingtra RAY, manufactured in Switzerland, is the first UAS in the world specifically designed to locating missing persons by utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify whole or partial human forms, or manufactured items commonly associated with human activity, among the photographic survey data captured during rural flight. The data is then presented, along with precise latitude/longitude coordinates for ground teams to review and respond to for follow-up.

The Wingtra RAY is listed on the “Blue UAS” list of authorized aircraft, which indicates the aircraft and its technology have been tested and found to be secure from foreign or domestic based cyber threats. The Wingtra RAY is registered with and operated under the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration by remote Sheriff pilots who hold certificated authority to operate the aircraft. As a survey drone, the Wingtra RAY cannot capture or broadcast video recordings. Its operation is pre-planned and flown autonomously under the supervision of the pilot, who can take control of the aircraft to avoid conflicts.

The Sheriff’s UAS Team have operated UAS in Ventura County for 13 years and have a strict policy of guaranteeing constitutional protection and privacy among its population. Data from UAS operations cannot be accessed by other governmental agencies unless specifically shared for a legitimate law enforcement or public safety purpose.