Caister Lifeboat Service in Norfolk is to be the first search and rescue team in the world to use high performance, pioneering drone technology, which is set to be revolutionary in saving lives at sea.

Fleetlights technology, first developed by Direct Line in 2016, enables a network of drones equipped with high-powered lights and HD cameras, to perform semi-autonomous flights. Each drone uses mesh networking* - an emerging technology that has only recently been applied to the world of drones - to fly semi-autonomously and conduct life-saving searches.

The average person stranded at sea without a boat is able to survive just a couple of hours which means every minute is crucial to their survival.

·         In daylight, the drones are an eye in the sky, providing an invaluable tool for spotting casualties that can be easily missed in the vast ocean

·         At night, rescuers are limited by how far they can see. The Fleetlights drones are fitted with powerful lights that act like floodlights in the middle of the ocean whilst feeding back essential visuals to the lifeboat team before it’s too late.

Direct Line initially developed the technology as a prototype service to demonstrate how drones could be used to bring mobile street lights to the darkest parts of the UK. The concept was well received globally but wide-spread implementation proved difficult due to strict regulations surrounding the use of drones.

Caister Lifeboat is an independent service, supported entirely by public donations and like many lifeboat teams in the UK, the nearest helicopter is an hour away and extremely costly. Direct Line is donating the technology to the Caister team where the drones will be used in searches and as a proof of concept ahead of a meeting with HM Coastguard and the Department for Transport, where a full national roll-out will be discussed.

Paul Garrod, Caister Lifeboats Chairman, says: “In the past, there have been instances where we have been unsuccessful when searching for someone in need of help. Perhaps if we had been equipped with the drone technology, these searches would have had a positive outcome. Improving visibility above and around boats, especially at night, will help us to locate those in danger much faster, meaning more lives could be saved.” 
 

Mark Evans at Direct Line said: “Fleetlights has been really exciting for Direct Line; symbolic of our intent to develop high performance solutions to everyday challenges. It is fantastic that Caister will now be utilising this ground-breaking drone hardware and software. 

"Only a year ago, we predicted we might be using the Fleetlights technology in real-life situations by around 2021.  We deliberately created the Fleetlights code on an open-source basis in the hope that this would help us to accelerate. Now that we are using the technology to develop the drones for sea rescue it has happened much faster than anticipated. It’s our hope that Caister can lead by example to inspire other sea rescue teams to adopt it across the country and improve the safety of British waters.”

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Notes to Editors

More information on Direct Line’s Fleetlights initiative here: https://www.directline.com/fleetlights

Mesh networking

*Mesh networking is an emerging technology that has only recently been applied to the world of drones. A service like Fleetlights requires many drones communicating with one another. Off -the-shelf units still rely heavily on radio communication, which has relatively low bandwidth for data transmission.

This is where mesh networking steps in – a technology that increases the rate of communication from the equivalent of dial-up internet to broadband speeds. This allows drone units to respond to each other instantly, increasing safety, and the number of units that can be in service at one time.
 

Direct Line 

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
 

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 3761or visiting www.directline.com