
7. Remote operations
The ability to conduct on-scene operations remotely without endangering responders

CAPABILITY GAP 7: “THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT ON-SCENE OPERATIONS REMOTELY WITHOUT ENDANGERING RESPONDERS”
There are multiple tasks that can be directed from a safe distance to improve the health and safety of emergency responders.
Addressing this capability gap may involve multiple types of systems. responders are interested in systems that they can control from a hand-held unit or a virtual reality headset. Components may include a fine-motor manipulator, capacity for heavy labor tasks, threat disruptors, or other payloads. Addressing this gap may also include fixed installations or sensor-activated systems. The growth of Internet of things (IoT) devices provides significant opportunity to address this gap.

TARGET OBJECTIVES AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
The target objectives for this gap are:
- Provide mission-appropriate capability to remotely carry out emergency response tasks to improve responder safety
- Operate in hazardous conditions
- Operate in a beyond line-of-sight capability
Potential solutions should:
- exist in a variety of sizes and configurations
- provide real-time transmission of mission data to controllers, command, and other intended destinations
- use a non-proprietary power source that provides sufficient power to support the mission (variable by platform)
- integrate mission data with other response systems
- be easy to operate, calibrate and maintain throughout the service life
- operate within multiple environments (e.g., smoke, humidity, temperature extremes, precipitation)
- be designed to minimize price of system, consumables, training, and maintenance

CAPABILITY
Responders would like the ability to view the tasks being performed by the systems. Depending on task, autonomous execution or operator controlled execution may be appropriate. Example tasks that may be addressed with a remote system include search and rescue, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) operations, fire suppression, communications support, and tactical operations.