RECCO Helicopter detector for increased efficiency in search and rescue operations

Important results from the project

The goal of this project has been to develop a product that enables use of the RECCO technology year-round and with a bigger application area. With the now fully operational helicopter detector unit now being tested by different rescue organisations this goal is partly achieved already. The long term goal (outside the project scope) of establishing this as a world wide search & rescue system for use in the outdoors remains to be achieved since the detector first needs to be established and individuals need to be equipped with recco reflectors to become searchable. This work has started.

Expected long term effects

The efforts to integrate reflectors in clothing and equipment for non-winter use has started and will be scaled up parallell with the detector being presented and in time becomes established as a new rescue tool. With the establishment of the system comes also the improved growth opportunities for RECCO. The test and presentation phase during Aug/Sep is the start of the roll-out plan of technology.

Approach and implementation

The original time plan for the project was revised. The project time was extended, but the project budget did not need to be adjusted significantly. The challenges within our own field of expertise where smaller than anticipated but challenges where external competences was required was larger. Budget was adjusted accordingly. The delayed launch is a minor miscalculation but nothing that we anticipate will change the final result in the long run. In general the project has been executed with any major diversions from the project plan.