New Horizon Innovations

Team name

Team New Horizon Innovations

Awards

• UAS 5.0: First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge
  • Stage 4 – Winner: $30,000
  • Total 5.0 Prizes: $65,000

UAS 5.0: 3D mapping solution summary

The RescueHawk UAV by New Horizon Innovations provides first responders with an advanced yet affordable tool for creating high-resolution, photorealistic 3D maps in near real time. By utilizing a 360-degree camera and Gaussian splatting techniques, this UAV generates detailed 3D reconstructions with remarkable accuracy. The system uses sensor fusion between an onboard IMU and the 360-camera footage to estimate the drone's precise position, feeding these pose estimates along with the 360-degree camera views into the Gaussian splatting algorithm to create immersive and actionable 3D maps. This streamlined setup eliminates the need for costly sensors, ensuring a lightweight, cost-effective solution for rapid deployment in disaster scenarios. With its robust construction and ease of use, RescueHawk empowers first responders to navigate challenging indoor environments, assess situations accurately, and make informed, time-sensitive decisions to save lives.

Team description and individual biography

The New Horizon Innovations UAV team unites experts in software, embedded systems, and drone hardware to deliver an advanced UAV solution for first responders.

Team Members:

• Jay Desai
  Software & Embedded Development Lead
  Jay specializes in software and embedded systems, creating the core algorithms powering RescueHawk’s real-time mapping and navigation.
• Eric Bircher
  Drone Hardware Expert
  Eric, a drone hardware specialist and avid FPV pilot, designs and optimizes the RescueHawk UAV for robust, reliable performance in the field.