Depending on the application, different types of cameras are used for surveillance. Visual cameras are used for capturing images during daylight, while a thermal camera may be used for night vision, seeing through smoke or fog, vegetation monitoring, fire and heat detection using infrared patterns, etc. Data may be streamed directly from the UAV via a secure communications channel to a remote central location.
If a speaker has been installed in the UAV, voice messages from the disaster coordination base can be delivered to disaster victims via the cellular network, while the voice of victims can be picked up using the microphone mounted on the UA, and relayed back to the disaster coordination base.