Hummingbird Partners with Meguro Ward for Drone Disaster Response Agreement

Hummingbird and Meguro Ward Establish Drone Disaster Response Partnership

Recently, Hummingbird Inc., which operates Drone School Tokyo, has established a partnership with Meguro Ward in Tokyo, signing an agreement on "Support Cooperation Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles during Disasters." This collaboration was formalized in the presence of Meguro Ward Mayor Eiji Aoki and Hummingbird's Representative Director Nobuhiko Suzuki.

Drones are known for their exceptional maneuverability, allowing for speedy and reliable information collection in hazardous locations, such as fire scenes or collapsed structures where traditional roads might be blocked. This agreement aims to leverage drones' capabilities during disaster situations, significantly enhancing emergency response efforts. Notably, drones were effectively utilized during the recent Noto Peninsula earthquake in 2024, demonstrating their value in crisis situations.

Key Features of the Partnership

Under this agreement, Hummingbird will deploy drone pilots to assist during emergencies, particularly for aerial surveys and search activities to swiftly gather disaster status information. Additionally, Hummingbird will provide essential data to administrative agencies, helping facilitate timely assistance and coordination.

Hummingbird aims to work proactively with Meguro Ward beyond emergency scenarios. Both entities will engage in joint disaster prevention training exercises and awareness events to improve regional disaster resilience. This newly inked agreement marks Hummingbird's eleventh collaboration with various wards in Tokyo concerning disaster response initiatives.

List of Collaborative Municipalities

Hummingbird’s disaster response partnerships include wards such as Meguro, Shinagawa, Ota, Nerima, Sumida, Minato, Edogawa, Adachi, Katsushika, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and even extends beyond Tokyo to Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture and Ichikawa City in Chiba Prefecture.

Characteristics and Risks of Meguro Ward

Meguro Ward is situated at the edge of the Musashino plateau, characterized by a hilly and undulating landscape interspersed with the Meguro River and the non-River valley system. Known as the “City of Hills,” the area is prone to landslide risks during heavy rainfall or earthquakes, posing potential challenges for emergency services access due to its steep slopes and narrow, densely populated residential zones.

Given these geographical challenges and urban density, reliance solely on ground transportation during crises could hinder prompt disaster response. Utilizing drones to obtain a comprehensive aerial view of the situation will prove invaluable during initial response operations, allowing for effective and rapid interventions.

Specific Areas of Cooperation

Hummingbird will perform the following support activities as instructed by Meguro Ward:
1. Conduct damage assessments, information collection, and search activities using drones within Meguro Ward.
2. Provide information captured by drones to Meguro Ward or designated disaster prevention administrative agencies.
3. Additional activities as mutually agreed upon by both parties will also be covered under the agreement.

Preparedness in Normal Times

In addition to disaster response, Hummingbird emphasizes the importance of preparedness. The company will utilize various opportunities to engage in training and awareness events focused on disaster readiness. For instance, on November 29th, a large-scale training exercise was conducted in conjunction with the demolition of the former Meguro Ward 11th Junior High School. In collaboration with Meguro Ward, the Meguro Fire Department, and the Meguro Fire Brigade, the teams practiced information collection from the air, enhancing their operational readiness.

About Hummingbird Inc.

Founded to harness cutting-edge technology and services for businesses and individuals, Hummingbird is dedicated to realizing the limitless potential of the drone industry while training talented personnel to contribute to industrial development. They launched the first commercial drone school housed within a shopping facility in November 2018, with the Drone School Odaiba. Subsequently, they opened the Shinjuku branch in July 2021 and the Yokohama branch in November 2022. Today, Hummingbird operates across 11 locations nationwide and has produced over 6,000 graduates since inception.

Recognized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Hummingbird conducts training programs for national qualifications in drone piloting, specifically the Grade 1 and Grade 2 Unmanned Aerial Aircraft Pilot certifications.