
An unmanned airship could revolutionise police and rescue operations by offering silent surveillance from above using an array of high-resolution cameras.

The zero-emission vehicle, dubbed Eon, is designed by British aviation firm Avalon Airships to be a fully-autonomous aircraft that lands on water, allowing it to access difficult-to-reach locations.

The company claims the vehicle, about the same size of a double-decker bus, would fit a wide variety of applications ranging from commercial uses to ambulance, surveillance and policing applications.

It would come equipped with a small, detachable drone that could carry medical supplies, including a defibrillator, to anyone injured below.

However, Eon remains a concept design for now, and Avalon Airships has not revealed when – if ever – it will build a prototype of the vehicle.

The unmanned airship could provide silent surveillance from above using an array of high-resolution cameras

Writing on its website, the company says: 'With its streamlined profile and high-torque electric motors, this vehicle can travel efficiently at speeds far greater than is achievable using road and rail networks.

'The silent hybrid airship design allows this aircraft to stay in the air for extended periods of time while having a flexible payload capability.

'Water-only landings give this vehicle a huge amount of possible landing sites.'

The Eon would be powered by fully electric motors and stay afloat using helium, making it almost-silent while it cruises through the air, boasting a range of 300 miles (480km).

It lacks any landing gear and so could only touch down and launch from water, which may raise some concerns over storing the vehicle in urban areas.

According to Avalon Airships, pilots would need to utilise 'disused shipping canals' in order to deploy from and deliver to city centres.

The zero-emission vehicle, dubbed Eon, is designed by British aviation firm Avalon Airships to be a fully autonomous aircraft that lands on water, allowing it to access a range of difficult-to-reach locations

Avalon Airships says the vehicle was designed to fit a wide variety of applications ranging from commercial uses to ambulance, surveillance and policing applications

The Eon remains a concept design for now, and Avalon Airships, which is based in Manchester, has not revealed when it would build a prototype of the vehicle

The Eon would be powered by fully electric motors and stay afloat using helium, making it almost silent while it cruises through the air, boasting a range of 300 miles (480km). It would land in and take off from water

It is even equipped with a small, detachable drone that can carry medical supplies - including a defibrillator - to anyone injured below

The company, based in Manchester, said the airship would be loaded with solar panels, wind generators and storage batteries to keep it afloat for extended-periods.

It would also come with a small, quadcopter drone to transport clothes, a defibrillator, a small heater, food rations and medical supplies to people on the ground.

'For the police, ambulance and rescue applications of EOS, the aircraft is equipped with a remotely piloted drone, allowing it to give more direct aid in emergencies,' the company says.

'A range of storage compartments allow the drone to carry a wide range of medical and survival payloads.'

The Eon could be configured to work as an air ambulance or search-and-rescue craft delivering medical supplies, as well as a police and surveillance vehicle with a host of cameras to spy on people below.

It could even work in entertainment roles, provide aerial coverage of all-day events, Avalon said.

The Eon could be configured as an air ambulance or search-and-rescue craft, as well as a police and surveillance vehicle (left) with cameras to spy on people below. It could provide aerial coverage for all-day events (right), Avalon airships said