Introduction
Improving usability for the Wiltshire Police UAV unit
The UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) unit of Wiltshire Police identified that the way they were storing their drones and related equipment in their response vehicles was not as efficient as it could be.
GWP Protective collaborated with Wiltshire Police to design and manufacture a custom foam tray to accommodate their UAVs and associated accessories.
The tray, installed in the back of the drone unit’s vehicles, organises the equipment, protecting it in transit and making it easier to access. Estimates suggest it is around 25% quicker to access the drones and accessories than previously.
Contents
About the customer
Wiltshire Police UAV unit
Wiltshire Police, formerly known as Wiltshire Constabulary, is responsible for policing the county of Wiltshire, including the Borough of Swindon. Although it is the second smallest in the United Kingdom in terms of officer numbers (after the City of London Police), it serves a population of 722,000 over an area of 1,346 square miles.
Their UAV unit operates a total of eighteen drones, which can be equipped with either HD video or thermal imaging cameras. The drones provide support to officers on the ground. They are typically used for searching large open areas, aerial photography of crime scenes and traffic collisions, and overseeing high-risk policing operations on the ground.
The team currently has twenty pilots from operational policing backgrounds.
The challenge
The challenges Wiltshire Police faced in storing their equipment
Assigned to the UAV team at the beginning of 2024, Special Constable Barry Cuss, who also serves as the Maintenance Manager for GWP, identified that the storage and access to drones and equipment could be more efficient.
Drones were being stored in their original packaging, making it more difficult to retrieve all of the required parts and accessories quickly. It also made re-packing equipment more time-consuming.
Additionally, there was a potential for items to become damaged, especially since the team continually used the original packs.
As a result, the UAV unit approached GWP Protective to explore the possibility of developing a more efficient method for storing and retrieving the drones.
The solution
GWP's approach to the brief
GWP Protective approached the project in three stages.
Firstly, the drone(s) and all accessories were accurately digitised using specialist equipment. Designer Will Lamb used a Faro Gauge tool to create accurate digital profiles of all parts, which he could then load into GWP’s CAD design system.
Will then created several potential layouts for the equipment in the tray, working closely with Wiltshire Police to ensure maximum usability.
Following the approval of the design, GWP Protective manufactured the tray at our foam conversion facility in Salisbury. Production involved first laminating a black top layer to a blue base, followed by the use of CNC routing to create pockets within the foam for each component. This process, combined with the accurate digitisation of all components, enabled a precise fit within the foam for each part.
The results
How Wiltshire Police benefited from the project
The tray, installed in the back of the drone unit’s vehicles, provides several benefits to Wiltshire Police’s UAV unit.
Most importantly, the foam tray organises the equipment and accessories the team use when flying their drones. Estimates suggest that it is approximately 25% quicker to access all of the parts and equipment than if the drones were packed in their original boxes.
The foam also makes packing away the equipment quicker, with the two-tone “shadow board” design allowing users to quickly identify if they have not returned parts to their designated location. This feature helps prevent accidental loss.
The Plastazote material also cushions and protects the drones during transit and storage, eliminating the potential for damage caused by impact, shock or vibration.
Finally, although it does not provide a tangible benefit, the foam also features the Wiltshire Police crest engraved into its surface.
Customer feedback
Wiltshire Police comments and feedback
Barry Cuss, Special Constable at Wiltshire Police, who first spotted the opportunity to improve the way the drones are stored and organised, commented:
I have been assigned to the UAV team for around six months. During that time, we took delivery of a new vehicle, and it was clear that the foam produced at GWP would be perfect for the job of protecting the kit we use.
Police Sergeant Tim Rich, Drone Unit Operations Manager at Wiltshire Police, added:
The foam insert that GWP supplied has significantly improved the efficiency of our operations through ease of use, and it looks more professional, too. Everyone who has seen it has been very impressed.
Summary
Improving your tool and equipment storage
By digitising their equipment, designing a solution focused on usability, and manufacturing a high-quality foam tray, GWP Protective helped Wiltshire Police achieve their goal of improved usability and protection for their UAVs.
If you would like our specialist foam engineers to assist in organising and protecting your tools or equipment, please get in touch.
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Further reading
About the author
Will has exceptional knowledge of 3D CAD design and various materials, which he uses to engineer high-performance foam packaging.
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