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    "story_id": "mp-2026-07-14-008",
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    "headline": "A Drone Swarm Takes the First Look at a Disaster",
    "slug": "a-drone-swarm-takes-the-first-look-at-a-disaster",
    "dek": "CMU teams are combining fast autonomous search with camera-based vital-sign assessment for high-risk response scenes.",
    "summary": "CMU teams are combining fast autonomous search with camera-based vital-sign assessment for high-risk response scenes.",
    "body_text": "Carnegie Mellon University is developing coordinated drone groups that can search flooded or hazardous areas and assess human vital signs from a distance. The work includes systems for autonomous exploration and camera-based triage under the DARPA Triage Challenge. Researchers describe swarms as a way to cover large scenes while reducing the number of responders placed in danger. The program is active research: remote observations can support triage, but they do not replace clinicians or establish that autonomous swarms are ready for unrestricted emergency deployment.",
    "why_it_matters": "CMU teams are combining fast autonomous search with camera-based vital-sign assessment for high-risk response scenes.",
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      "The program is active research: remote observations can support triage, but they do not replace clinicians or establish that autonomous swarms are ready for unrestricted emergency deployment."
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        "text": "CMU teams are combining fast autonomous search with camera-based vital-sign assessment for high-risk response scenes.",
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        "qualification": "The program is active research: remote observations can support triage, but they do not replace clinicians or establish that autonomous swarms are ready for unrestricted emergency deployment."
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    "tags": [
      "drones",
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      "source_id": "source-2026-07-14-008",
      "title": "Carnegie Mellon University: Drone swarms for high-stakes response",
      "publisher": "Carnegie Mellon University",
      "url": "https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2026/july/when-one-drone-isnt-enough-cmu-builds-swarms-for-high-stakes-response-efforts",
      "canonical_url": "https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2026/july/when-one-drone-isnt-enough-cmu-builds-swarms-for-high-stakes-response-efforts",
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      "is_primary_source": true,
      "published_at": "2026-07-12T20:00:00.000-04:00",
      "accessed_at": "2026-07-14T08:30:28.235-04:00",
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    "title": "A Drone Swarm Takes the First Look at a Disaster",
    "publisher": "The Machine Press",
    "published_at": "2026-07-14T09:00:00.000-04:00",
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