BRINC Guardian drone with Starlink receiver unveiled

It now relies less on ground infrastructure

US company BRINC has unveiled its new Guardian drone, whose standout feature is an integrated Starlink receiver. Satellite connectivity makes the drone less dependent on ground infrastructure and enables it to operate farther from its operator.

According to the company, Guardian can operate at distances of up to around 13 km from the operator. BRINC says its operational range is now determined more by battery charge than by losing the connection to the operator. One of the new model’s principal features is an automatic battery-swapping system. This allows the drone to return to service more quickly, avoiding the lengthy pause required for a full recharge, which normally takes about 25 minutes.

BRINC Guardian payloads for emergency services

Guardian can also carry a range of payloads. Depending on the mission, it can deliver defibrillators, water-rescue equipment and other gear for civilian services and rescue teams.

The drone is fitted with an integrated camera that supports 4K video and up to 640x zoom. BRINC states that this makes it possible to search for people from altitudes above 300 metres. For night-time operations, it is equipped with a 1,000-lumen SkyBeam spotlight.

Cameras, thermal imaging and siren

BRINC considers Guardian suitable not only for rescue and medical missions, but also for police use. Its equipment includes two HD cameras with thermal imaging and zoom, a laser rangefinder, plus a loudspeaker and a siren that is claimed to be three times louder than a police car siren.

The company notes that none of these technologies is new on its own. However, it says Guardian is the first compact drone designed specifically for civilian services to bring them together. BRINC believes this approach gives emergency services capabilities that were previously largely available only through the use of costly helicopters.