Transport the Avata II
Hello dear community,
My SWAT unit is getting some Avata II.
The drones are to be carried by specially trained SWAT operators as reconnaissance tools. We are now looking for a good solution for carrying the drones on our equipment and deploying them as quickly as possible.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a practical storage solution?
Many thanks in advance.
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Fabio,
Hello again! For storage when not deploying, GPC makes fantastic cases. For deployment, the cases are too bulky, but there are lots of options.
Custom backpacks exist or can be made that can store the aircraft safely. I've also seen some operators just throw everything in their regular backpacks. If you purchase a foam insert for the Avata 2 that is meant for a small storage case, you can then place the insert in a backpack and carry it that way, which affords more protection. If the backpack is attached to a plate carrier, you will likely need another person to retrieve the aircraft, which is not ideal. If the backpack is not attached, it can be a good solution and can also allow you to have the lights on the aircraft already on just prior to deployment since the aircraft is concealed inside a backpack (this is how Herbert Oubre, a LEDA Steering Committee member uses his).
There are pouches that can be attached to a belt or plate carrier that are made specifically to carry aircraft. The linked pouch is a really good solution, but the company that produces them has a minimum order requirement that is beyond what most departments would need. You can come up with something like the linked pouch just by purchasing a pouch that is sized properly for the Avata 2 and customizing it for the protection you need by adding plastic and foam.
There are thigh rigs for the Avata 2 that allow you to carry the aircraft on your leg and quickly release it when it is needed.
The best and cheapest solution that we have found is to just clip the aircraft to our plate carrier. We're using something as simple as elastic shock cord and carabiners and have zero issues with the aircraft moving around or bouncing, even when running. Others have had luck with these types of clips that interact with the MOLLE on most plate carriers. Reach out to me and I can send pictures of how that works for us. The most significant downside of this storage method is exposure to inclement weather and a lack of physical protection for the aircraft. Weather is a legitimate concern, since the aircraft are not IP rated, but I'm not very worried about damage since the Avata is subjected to much worse during crashes.
Regardless of what you choose, the biggest challenge is going to be getting all of that to work with what your operators already have to carry around. If they are anything like our team, they've already got so much on their carriers that there isn't much room. For that reason, it is much easier to have someone who just does drone stuff as the primary resource, and to fall back on the operators if that person is not available.