#Japan #TRIPLE7 #Deaf Surfing #Drone Safety #Shirako

Ensuring Safety for Hearing-Impaired Athletes with Drones

The Need for Non-Audio Disaster Prevention

Traditionally, safety management in water sports, such as surfing, has relied heavily on audio signals, like sirens, warning radios, and loudspeakers. However, with all participants in the Mellow Cup 2025 being athletes with hearing impairments, there was an urgent need to establish visual-based disaster prevention methods. On the event days, wind speeds reached approximately 5 m/s, leading to several instances where competitors drifted outside the competition area. This situation highlighted the necessity for “broad, immediate, and visual” safety measures.

Overview of Drone Surveillance Implementation

During this event, a team of five drone pilots operated in pairs (pilot and assistant) to monitor the competition area continuously.

• - Flight Duration: Approximately 15 minutes per flight
• - Objective: Monitoring athlete positions, detecting departures from designated areas, and ensuring readiness for visual evacuation guidance in emergencies, like tsunamis.
• - Drone Used: DJI Matrice 4TD
• - Features: AI person detection, high-intensity lights (red), and speakers.

Notably, the lights were customized to switch from white to red, enhancing visibility during emergencies and ensuring immediate alerting through visual cues even in sound-restricted environments. The operational system adhered to NAPA's unique protocol, utilizing a “two-person safety operation system” to visualize risks on site while ensuring reliable drone deployment.

Collaboration on Site

Safety operations were built upon collaborations with various organizations:

• - Shirako Town Office
• - Mobara Police Station
• - Nonprofit Organization J-PRO (Rescue)

This collaboration improved safety accuracy for both water and land in the vicinity. NAPA's certified instructor and head instructor, Hugo Masuda, conducted pre-flight inspections and provided safety management frameworks to various corporations and local governments nationwide.

Feedback from Athletes and Officials

• - “The red light was very visible and served as an intuitive alert.” (Athlete)
• - “The assurance of having an overview from above was significant.” (Athlete)
• - “I truly experienced the effectiveness of evacuation guidance without relying on sound.” (Local government representative)

The effectiveness of this system towards achieving “disaster prevention without leaving anyone behind” was confirmed.

Outcomes and Future Challenges

Outcomes:

• - High recognition of the visual guidance light (red).
• - Stable surveillance even under strong winds (around 5 m/s).
• - Effective monitoring of area departures through AI person detection.
• - The DJI Matrice 4TD with high-intensity red lights is now applicable for nighttime surveillance and security purposes.

Future Considerations:

• - Variations in visibility due to environmental changes like weather and glare.
• - Optimizing division of roles between ground and aerial guidance.
• - Establishing unified meanings and thorough pre-explanations for evacuation signs.

TRIPLE7 and NAPA Drone Academy’s Vision

This trial has demonstrated the feasibility of drones as a visual disaster prevention infrastructure by the coastline. The technology not only ensures the safety of hearing-impaired athletes but also has potentials in various sectors including disaster prevention, crime prevention, monitoring, and broad surveillance. Moving forward, the plans include:

• - Drone monitoring for beach safety.
• - Enhancing safety management in marine sports events.
• - Applications in riverside and lakeside events.
• - Strengthening collaborations with municipalities for security patrols, lost child searches, and monitoring assistance.
• - Creating an inclusive operational model in collaboration with diverse pilots, including those who are deaf.

The goal remains—to advance safe operations that ensure “no one is left behind.” Candidates aspiring to become future drone instructors are trained at NAPA Drone Academy in Chiba, equipped to handle various fields such as aerial photography, disaster prevention, security, and infrastructure inspections.

About TRIPLE7

Founded by Shingo Iwaoka, who spent 20 years as a pilot for Japan Airlines' international routes, TRIPLE7 specializes in drones. Its NAPA Drone Academy supports acquiring national qualifications while offering multi-faceted skill enhancement for individuals seeking second careers or job transitions. The academy trains “drone operation professionals,” capable of working across a range of practical areas, including aerial photography, infrastructure inspections, and AI nighttime security.

For companies considering the introduction of drone operations, feel free to reach out. We provide optimal proposals tailored to your field needs, including design, validation, regulatory compliance, and operational structuring, alongside national qualification support and safety training for corporations.

Contact Information:
TRIPLE7 Inc.
Tokyo Headquarters: 2-19-15 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Room 609
Osaka Branch: 1-16-10 Higashimikuni, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
Web: triple7.biz
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 03-6826-0303
NAPA Drone Academy Chiba Main School, Yokohama School, Osaka School, Tochigi Kanuma School, Hiroshima School
Web: napa-drone-academy.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 047-770-0918

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