HYDRONALIX INC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.6

Description

HERMES: Humanitarian Emergency Response Messenger of Essential Supplies drone payloadattachmentPI: Anthony C. MulliganSmall business: Hydronalix Green Valley AZMore than 95% of U.S. land area is classified as rural but home to just 19% of the population.Rural communities face geographic and demographic obstacles in responding to and preparing forextreme events such as hurricanes tornadoes and flooding. The physical isolation limitedeconomic diversity and aging population increase the chances of loss of life and time that localgovernments and first responders will need to respond to those in dire need of help. This isexacerbated by the fact that rural populations are already stressed by remoteness and limited accessto resources and local governments have limited budgets and facilities to respond to naturaldisasters.In this Phase I project Hydronalix Inc. will design a series of low-cost (less than $2000 each)interchangeable modular drone attachments cumulatively called HERMES that each individuallyhave capabilities to assist with disaster response in rural areas to help these populations and localgovernments especially vulnerable populations that need help to survive while waiting forrescue. HERMES are interchangeable and can easily attach to a lightweight low power dronecalled the Dove a humanitarian drone developed by Hydronalix. The Dove and selectedHERMES modular attachments will be low-cost and help first responders aid people in ruralareas that may not be immediately accessible following a natural disaster due to flooding firesother physical blockages or lack of resources to reach people quickly. Each HERMES payloadwill have unique mission capabilities to complete specific missions. These capabilities includedelivering medicines food water or other critical supplies to rural populations depth finders andcell amplifiers for locating and establishing a line of communication with survivor and real timeland mapping and depth finding capabilities to assist responders find safe routes in disasterzones.