A new research exercise in Dublin has demonstrated how drones can play a vital role in future emergency services. During the test, an automated drone launched from a docking station, flew to a simulated incident on the River Liffey, and provided live high-definition video and data to the Dublin Fire Brigade’s command team. Artificial intelligence then analysed the footage in real time, helping responders locate the casualty and assess their condition before arriving on scene.
The trial was part of the national Drone Innovation Partnership led by Maynooth University. The project involves Dublin City Council, the Irish Aviation Authority, and Dublin Fire Brigade. It focuses on how automated drone stations can safely operate in cities and support emergency response. The demonstration will appear in RTÉ One’s Futureville Ireland series during Science Week, which begins on Sunday, 9 November.
A new kind of emergency support
Unlike traditional drones that require a pilot, this system works automatically. The drone sits in a weatherproof docking station and launches within seconds of an alert. It can fly to a pre-set location, stream data to command units, and return to its dock when the mission ends. For first responders, that means getting critical situational awareness before crews even arrive at the scene.
Teresa Hudson from Dublin Fire Brigade said the technology could make a real difference when time is critical. If the drone can reach the scene first and send back live information, teams can plan their response with better accuracy and speed.
Research and regulation
The Drone Innovation Partnership is supported by Science Foundation Ireland through the LERO Research Centre. It builds on previous research into drone traffic management and smart city projects by Dublin City Council. The goal is to test how automated drones, supported by AI, can be integrated safely into Irish emergency response systems.
Professor Tim McCarthy from Maynooth University said the real-world trials are helping researchers understand both the capabilities and limitations of automated drone networks. He added that this knowledge is vital for scaling AI-enabled emergency response in a responsible and effective way.
Enda Walsh from the Irish Aviation Authority said the exercise shows how combining automation and AI can have a positive societal impact. The partnership will continue to examine how drone ecosystems, including regulations, technology, and operations, can be safely introduced in urban environments across Ireland.
What comes next
The trial marks an important step toward using drones more widely in emergency services. While there is still work to do around regulation, privacy, and weather performance, the results suggest real potential. Automated drones could support not just rescue operations but also traffic management, environmental monitoring, and other public services in future.
Ireland’s approach to testing new technology in controlled, real-world settings puts it in a strong position to develop safe and practical drone systems for cities like Dublin.
