The SUV has been fitted as a mobile first aid kit, rescue coordination station and mobile command centre.
Land Rover has just shown off a cool new Discovery tailored for the Austrian Red Cross. It’s a disaster response mobile command centre and where it can’t go on land it can have an eye in the sky.
Land Rover has supported the Red Cross in disaster relief since 1954. That year, it donated a Land Rover to be used as a mobile pharmacy in the deserts of Dubai. Since then it has donated more than 120 vehicles to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. But probably none as high-tech as this. The company’s Special Vehicle Operations division has spent the last 18 months collaborating with the Austrian Red Cross to develop this bespoke Discover that it says can help save lives.
The SUV has been fitted as a mobile first aid kit, rescue coordination station and mobile command centre. It has four radio antennas that handle multiple frequencies to make sure occupants can stay connected. It also has a pair of mobile WiFi hotspots to ensure rescuers can keep up to date. Should they be needed somewhere that cell phone service isn’t available, a satellite phone has been fitted. Six USB charge points keep occupant devices charged and a CTEK battery monitoring system keeps the Disco’s batteries charged.
Along with the radio antennas fitted into the expedition roof rack, the rack also has high-intensity spotlights. There are more spotlights in the front bumper and emergency blue lights fitted around the vehicle.
In the back is a custom carbon cargo carrying system. The carbon loadspace has spaces for mobile radios including a docking station, first aid supplies, and other important cargo like a large-screen touch-sensitive computer system. It can slide out to ease loading and operation.
The Discovery used is a 3.0L TD6 diesel model. The 258 hp diesel and Land Rover off-road capability allows the Discovery to reach remote disaster areas in nearly all conditions. Then it can update emergency planners to help coordinate the response.
But the real trick for this Land Rover might be the eight-rotor drone. The long-range drone is fitted with an impressively long-range thermal imaging system. It can detect the heat of a vehicle from a kilometre away. If searching for a person, the drone can detect their body heat from 440 metres. It has a function that allows the operator to store the exact coordinates of anything seen on screen. With just a touch of the screen. Moving objects can be selected and automatically tracked.
This isn’t just a show vehicle, they’re planning to use it. It’s even been used already on training exercises.
“Since we started collaborating in 1954, our aim has been to help the Red Cross improve its disaster response and ultimately to help save lives,” said Michael Van Der Sande, head of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations. “Over the past 18 months our engineers have worked closely with the emergency response team at the Austrian Red Cross, deploying Land Rover’s technology and talent to create a unique solution to the requirements of the Red Cross in the region.”
Keyword: Land Rover Builds Special Discovery For Red Cross Emergency Response