Atatürk University Applied Sciences Faculty students who experienced the earthquakes in Van in 2011 and Kahramanmaraş in 2023 have developed a drone called ‘Depron’ to support search and rescue operations. The ‘Depron’ will use heat sensors to detect survivors trapped under rubble. Injured individuals rescued from the wreckage will be recorded and their transportation to hospitals will be reported.

Hüseyin Ayğan (23), who experienced the two major earthquakes in Van in 2011, along with Beyza Konuker (21) and Şuhedanur Halat (22), who survived the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6th, have prepared a project to assist search and rescue efforts. They formed a team called ‘Robotec’, which also includes Ibrahim Hakkı Harmankaya (22), Talha Ağbaba (22), Serhat Akkoyunlu (22), Seval Olgaç (20), and Nuri Eray Bilgin (22). Together, they developed a drone named ‘Depron’. Designed for use in rescue operations, ‘Depron’ includes a mobile data transfer system. Survivors trapped under rubble will be detected using heat sensors on the drone. Additionally, a sound system will be used to make calls such as “Can anyone hear me?”. The installation of a lighting system on the drone will provide support for night operations. The project aims to record injured individuals rescued from the wreckage and report their transportation to hospitals.

Hüseyin Ayğan stated, “We started the earthquake search and rescue drone project with our team ‘Robotec’ at school. The drone we developed will support saving lives of people trapped under rubble. Heat sensors installed on the drone will identify injured individuals under debris. We will charge the batteries of the drone using solar energy. With the sound system we will install on the drone, we will be able to communicate more effectively with those trapped under rubble. We are expecting support to complete and further develop this project.”

Beyza Konuker, who was caught in the February 6th earthquakes in Adıyaman, stated that she started this project due to the deficiencies she observed during search and rescue operations. Şuhedanur Halat, who experienced the earthquake disaster in Malatya, said, “I was in Malatya during the earthquake. I witnessed many deficiencies in search and rescue operations. Due to delayed interventions, many deaths occurred. That’s why we started this project.”