About xSAR

xSAR is a small philanthropic engineering effort based in Toowoomba. It explores practical systems that may support emergency services and the State Emergency Service across Queensland and the Northern Territory without adding to their workload.

Why the project exists

Emergency responders already bring training, local knowledge and sound judgement. xSAR is not intended to replace that. The aim is to investigate whether drones, sensors, positioning, communications and better software can give those teams useful information sooner and reduce avoidable exposure to danger.

How the work is approached

Safety first

Nothing should increase risk to responders or the people they are helping.

Evidence over claims

Progress is shown through dated work, test results, photographs, code and honest status labels.

Open where practical

Software, firmware and technical tools are published when they are documented well enough to inspect, build or extend.

A public engineering journey

The Progress page records the development journey. The Open Source page maps the public engineering work. Shorter day-to-day updates appear on X @xSAR_Research.

Last updated: 29 July 2026