Cornerstone Research Group (CRG), the sister company of Rushlight Ventures, achieved a major breakthrough with its Bellbird High-Fidelity Drone Audio System, which was successfully tested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). The test, part of an operational field assessment organized by the National Urban Security Technology Division, took place at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory.
Bellbird, an advanced unmanned aerial system (UAS), is designed to enhance public safety by delivering clear, audible voice commands and warning tones from the air. Equipped with a Mobile Sound Shield (MSS), Bellbird ensures that voice commands are heard over noisy environments while maintaining a safe operational distance. This system is uniquely suited for rapid deployment, either from mobile or stationary platforms, and can be instrumental in emergency response situations.
The Bellbird platform has a wide range of potential applications, from managing large public gatherings and crowd control at events like concerts or sports games to supporting campus protests or civil disturbances. Bellbird can also aid search-and-rescue efforts, providing clear instructions from the air while keeping first responders at a safe distance. The system offers enhanced communication during high-risk situations, making it a transformative tool for public safety and emergency response.
The recent field assessment involved first responders and evaluators from across the U.S., testing Bellbird’s ability to deliver clear audio despite challenging background noise. The system’s two-way communication capability also allows real-time feedback from individuals on the ground, enhancing situational awareness for first responders. Feedback from the test covered aspects such as deployability, sound quality, flight maneuverability, and ease of use, helping CRG refine the system for future improvements.
“Bellbird is setting new standards in public safety communication,” said Evan Gin, lead engineer at CRG. “We are excited to keep advancing this technology based on the valuable insights we gained during the field assessment.”
CRG is also working to make Bellbird’s payloads drone-agnostic, allowing the system to integrate with a wide variety of platforms. The two-way communication system is being refined to become smaller and lighter, suited for targeted situations like hostage negotiations or confined environments where large crowd-control speakers are unnecessary.
As the commercialization partner for Bellbird, Rushlight Ventures is eager to see the system’s impact across public safety and emergency response sectors. To learn more or explore collaboration opportunities, contact Rushlight Ventures.