A Smart Ambulance Escort Drone

Time is of utmost importance for an ambulance to reach its destination. Every second counts when responding to a medical emergency and delays can have catastrophic consequences. Traffic jams and drivers who do not give the right of way are the leading cause of delaying the arrival time of the ambulance. This paper shows the design and building of an ambulance escort drone. The drone is a quadcopter, fitted with visual and audio warning devices, such as loud sirens and police lights. And it is also fitted with a camera. The goal of the drone is to use visual and audio warning devices to alert drivers to give the right of way to the ambulance. For vehicles that do not clear the lane within the required time, the drone will take a photo of the registration plate. Consequently, the driver can be issued a traffic violation citation. The drone was tested locally, and the results showed that drivers on public roads could be alerted using the warning devices.