Impacting the world for good
If you follow the news, you’ll know that drones have been increasingly becoming a public nuisance. Chaos ensued from the three-day-long Gatwick closure (UK’s second-largest airport) because of an alleged drone sighting in December of 2018. Newark airport in New York also suffered an impromptu flight termination due to drones several weeks ago.
UAV’s (unmanned aerial vehicles) can serve many purposes. Yes, they might make that irritating buzzing sound and they’re a health hazard if they fly into you at the park… You would be right to think those things from time to time! But some people welcome that characteristic humming sound.
Natural disasters
Sadly, there are many areas of the world that are still prone to humanitarian and natural disasters. In 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant suffered damages from a tsunami. Drones were deployed to assess the damage and minimise the amount of human intervention. Unlike other vehicles, drones can access areas that are too dangerous for another mode of transport. They would be able to find a way into a damaged building that would otherwise be unsafe for an attempted rescue mission. Thermal imaging cameras on drones can also help in a natural disaster, efficiently finding people trapped under rubble or debris. They have quicker response times, locating those that are missing with accuracy and ultimately saving lives.
When it comes to wildfires, low visibility and high temperatures make treacherous conditions for a firefighter. Send in a drone, however, and they can drop flame retardants safely to help extinguish the flames. Every year in the U.S. 7 million acres of land is scorched and left uninhabitable. Companies like DroneSeed are providing ways to tackle this problem. They locate microsites to plant-specific tree biomes that stand the best chance of thriving in that area. The company also delivers herbicide protection to plants and crops with such precision, that chemical usage is lessened by up to 50% on a mass scale. Another obvious benefit of using drones in this field is for monitoring. DroneSeed gathers high-resolution LiDAR and imagery of plant life. This helps to gather important data about overall plant health and its surrounding environment.
Conservation
In the interest of saving the planet, drones have great capabilities for conservationists. The organisation Conservation Drones focuses on projects concerning wildlife. They aim to protect habitats and monitor behaviours to help give vulnerable creatures a better chance of survival. Traditionally, wildlife surveys took place on foot, which is time-consuming and difficult when facing rough terrain and extreme temperatures. In Southeast Asia, deforestation threatens the lives of Orangutans and their habitats. Conservation Drones can now count the orangutan nests from an aerial view, reducing the resources required to carry out this particular survey.
Drones are also a great deterrent for poachers. When a gunshot fires, time is critical. It could mean the difference between catching criminals or losing them and the life of an animal. In dense forests, it is almost impossible to locate a poaching site quickly on foot. Drones can manoeuvre quickly and with any luck, be able to track the poachers fleeing the scene. Poachers often strike at night to remain unseen, but thermal imaging cameras on drones and infrared technology help to combat this issue.
As well as tackling conservation on land, UAV’s assist with coral reefs at sea. Underwater photography equipment is expensive and satellite images have a poorer resolution than that of a drone. The perfect middle ground, drones help conservationists create accurate 3D maps of reefs, whilst also observing the wildlife that resides there.
Construction
One of the most commercial uses for UAV’s is in the construction industry. Companies such as Skycatch supply drones and software that can survey building sites. These drones create complex maps that inform companies with useful data throughout the construction process. Site managers can observe the terrain and topography, ensuring the development taking place is of the utmost quality, is safe and suits the landscape. At the end of a construction project, drones also serve a function for realty. Before a buyer sees a property in person, aerial pictures and video tours can help the customer gain insight. Companies like Drone Base take videos and high-resolution images of an area and are stitched together, giving a 360 effect.
Military
Over the years, the military has used UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) primarily for surveillance but also for an offensive strategy. Drones have a long history with war, and rightly so. They are the perfect resource to lead tactical initiatives, ensuring efficient surveillance happens before a potential attack and protects soldiers lives. Companies such as AeroVironment Inc manufacture and supply UAVs and missiles to governments, with the mantra that soldiers can ‘proceed with certainty’ with the assistance of specialised drones.
Prox Dynamics also manufacture drones, with their model the Black Hornet being utilised by the U.S. the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and India. It is a popular choice among forces because it is a micro UAV. It travels up to 18km per hour and weighs just 18 grams. Pocket-sized and stealthy; its the perfect addition to any force. We can expect the adoption of drones to defences to grow over time, with countries such as the U.S. having around $640 billion of military spending.
Delivery and retail
Drones have found their place in almost all industries you can think of today. As we look on to 2019, a popular trend in drone usage is delivery services/retail. Amazon is widely covered by the media, labelled as an innovative company and one of the largest corporations in the world. For years they have tested drone delivery systems, but it has been difficult to get approval from the general public and lawmakers due to air traffic concerns.
With their service Amazon Prime Air, they boldly aim to make local deliveries across several international locations within less than 30 minutes. These drones can carry parcels weighing up to 2KG, which amounts to 90% of customer orders. It will save Amazon millions on shipping costs and yet again as drones have proven, they crunch time too. Shopping is not the only delivery option out there. Start-ups such as Zipline send drones packed with medicine to remote locations in Africa. This method saves lives, delivering medical supplies and bloods that are not so easily accessible in that area of the world.
