ABOUT
The idea for Vector-SARDF was born out of a simple but urgent question: how can we use automated UAVs and modern wireless research to save lives faster?
After years of experience in emergency services, aerospace research, and hands-on operations in the Civil Air Patrol and university research labs, the founding team recognized a critical gap in search and rescue (SAR) response: the time it takes to detect and localize emergency beacons. Traditional methods—satellite detection followed by ground or manned aircraft search—can take hours, and in those lost hours, survival rates plummet.
Inspired by advances in software-defined radio (SDR) and the growing ecosystem of experimental testbeds like AERPAW (Platform for Advanced Wireless Research), the team set out to create a UAV-based system that could bring airborne signal detection and localization capabilities directly into SAR operations.
Vector-SARDF integrates UAV mobility with advanced RF sensing methods such as RSSI direction finding and time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) to deliver real-time localization of distress beacons. By leveraging AERPAW’s Digital Twin → Over-the-Air experimentation workflow, the project is able to safely emulate beacon signals in FCC Innovation Zone spectrum, validate algorithms, and move rapidly toward field deployment.
What makes Vector-SARDF unique is its dual vision:
In the near term, it is a research and experimentation platform, advancing reproducible wireless research in UAV-based SDR applications.
In the long term, it is a life-saving operational capability, reducing SAR search areas by over 90% and dramatically improving survivor outcomes in both civilian and defense contexts.
Vector-SARDF is committed to developing and demonstrating this technology to maximize its benefit for society. By accelerating the convergence of wireless research, UAV autonomy, and defense-grade operational concepts, Vector-SARDF aims to create a future where no distress beacon goes unheard, and no survivor is left waiting.