DJI did it again: If the USAR Drone Team sounds familiar, that is because they are regulars here for a very different reason. We usually write about them for rescuing lost dogs and reuniting them with relieved owners who thought their best friend had vanished for good. This time, the mission is colder, wetter, and far more urgent, as Long Island News12 reports.
The team has developed a drone based rescue system designed for ice and water emergencies, where seconds matter and mistakes can cost lives.
Instead of sending responders onto unstable ice or into freezing water, the drone flies directly to the person in distress carrying an automatic flotation rescue ring.
Yes, it is still the same group that finds dogs in the woods. They just happen to also drop lifesaving gear from the sky now.
How the DJI Matrice 400 changes the response
All drones used by the USAR Drone Team are DJI aircraft, and this rescue system flies on the DJI Matrice 400. This platform is not subtle. It can carry a payload of up to 13 pounds and stay airborne for as long as 59 minutes, which is an eternity when someone is fighting cold shock. The Matrice 400 is the latest drone of the DJI Enterprise Series and I could easily define it like a flying swiss army knife.
The rescue ring is tethered during flight, allowing precise delivery even in rough water or difficult terrain. Once the victim grabs the ring, it releases automatically.
That detail is critical because icy water quickly numbs hands, making traditional flotation devices hard to use when adrenaline is high and fine motor skills are gone.
Michael Parziale, founder and team leader of the USAR Drone Team, says the setup takes only minutes. In many cases, help can reach a victim in three to five minutes, which is often the difference between a rescue and a recovery.
Faster rescues without putting responders at risk
Traditional ice water rescues usually require specialized suits, ladders, and multiple responders, all of whom are exposed to danger. The drone approach keeps first responders on solid ground while still allowing them to pull the victim to safety once the flotation ring is secured.
The program is funded through donations and community support, covering equipment, maintenance, and expansion. Despite operating on a tight budget, the USAR Drone Team has already deployed the system multiple times in New Jersey, including responses involving a lost boater in Manasquan and a body recovery in Keyport.
The idea grew out of past rescues that arrived too late, especially during the summer season. The goal now is simple and serious, save more lives while keeping rescuers out of harm’s way, preferably without anyone having to crawl across cracking ice.
DroneXL’s Take
This is public safety drone work done right. The same team we know for finding lost dogs is now using a DJI Matrice 400 to deliver flotation faster than most departments can unload a truck.
It is practical, scalable, and refreshingly low on buzzwords. When a drone can fly for nearly an hour, carry real weight, and keep humans off thin ice, the humor practically writes itself, but the impact is no joke. More agencies should be paying attention, and more communities should be helping fund it.
Photo credit: News 12 Long Island
