JLR and Red Cross unveil drone-equipped Discovery

Jaguar Land Rover has developed a Land Rover Discovery for the Red Cross that includes a search and rescue drone which can take off and land while the vehicle is moving.

‘Project Hero’ saw JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division working alongside the Austrian Red Cross to create the unique vehicle. It features a roof-mounted drone and a landing system that uses self-centring and magnetic retention technology to enable the UAV to land on the vehicle while it’s in motion.

“The new Discovery is an outstanding all-terrain SUV, and Project Hero is the optimum combination of enhanced capability and innovative technology,” said John Edwards, JLR’s managing director of Special Operations. “We hope to help the Red Cross save lives in emergency situations.”

With the drone in the air, it can transmit live footage to the Red Cross’s emergency response teams, assisting with search and rescue efforts. This could be particularly effective where the teams are dealing with landscapes affected by earthquakes, flooding and avalanches, where maps are often rendered useless.