AI-Powered Drone Leads Swift Rescue of Two Lost Hikers in Kosciuszko National Park

A dramatic rescue operation in Kosciuszko national park has highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to save lives. Two hikers, both in their 20s, were reported missing at 7pm on Tuesday after they failed to return to a rendezvous point on time. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) sprang into action, deploying a drone equipped with thermal imaging and AI detection technology to scour the area. The hikers, who had been walking the Dead Horse Gap track, used a red light on a mobile phone to signal their location to the drone in the darkness. Once spotted, the drone's built-in speaker made contact with the pair, and its spotlight guided rescuers on the ground to their location, just half a kilometre off the track. The entire operation took less than five hours, a feat that Fire and Rescue inspector Phillip Eberle attributed to the drone's AI technology. 'This could have been a long and arduous search, but the drone's AI detection system helped us pinpoint the hikers quickly,' Eberle said. The rescued men were suffering from mild exposure but declined medical treatment. The successful rescue has raised hopes that similar technology could be used in the future to drop emergency supplies to stranded people, reducing the risks faced by rescuers. FRNSW is urging hikers to take precautions, including registering with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and using Personal Locator Beacons, to minimize the risk of getting lost in the wilderness.