While drones may be a contentious topic, some companies and non-profit organizations are already deploying them for life-saving missions. Here is a roundup of some fascinating new applications of drones that go beyond war, spying, and Amazon deliveries.
In the forests and jungles of the world, as conservationists
Lian Pin Koh, a drone ecologist, is part of a new breed of conservationists who believes that drones can help him and his colleagues cover more land, and acquire better images of wildlife in their habitat -- without having to slog through jungles and forests. His organization, ConservationDrones.org, has run projects in Indonesia to monitor orangutan populations; in Nepal, to track one-horned rhinos; and throughout the world (in Tanzania, Belize, Cambodia, the US, Scotland, Madagascar, and more).
In Iran, as a lifeguard
RTS, a Tehran-based lab, has developed a waterproof drone for search and rescue operations on the Caspian Sea. Usable during the day and at night (with thermal cameras), the drone can reach a drowning victim in a third of the time it takes a lifeguard to swim out to him/her. The company recently relocated to London and has been accepting pre-orders.
In Bhutan, as clinics
Bhutan has 0.3 doctors for every 1,000 people in a country of 700,000. Moreover, much of the population lives in the mountains or in valleys, sandwiched between steep climbs. Matternet, probably the most famous and talked about drone startup, was invited by the Bhutanese government and WHO to see if drones could help with delivering medical equipment and medicine.
In Switzerland, as disaster relief
At the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research, a team of scientists and technologists have developed a much-talked about prototype for the first collision-friendly drone, Gimball, suitable for disaster relief scenarios. Last year, it won a $1,000,000 from the UAE government in a 'drone for good' competition. Yet, to be tested in the field, its design enables it to fly even after bumping into obstacles.
In Africa, as a highway for medical supplies
AfroTech is developing a two-lane highway in the skies for drones: the Red/Blue Project. The Red Line will service emergency and medical supplies only. Given road conditions on the continent, AfroTech wants to take cargo to the skies, using the Blue Line for commercial deliveries and the Red Line for much-needed care in emergency cases.
In the Netherlands, as an ambulance
At Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, a graduate student designed a drone ambulance that delivers an external defibrillator to help cardiac arrest patients on site. The drone can be adapted to include other emergency materials as well, such as a CPR kit and meds.
Photo Courtesy of Alec Momont.
In Haiti, as a humanitarian in the sky
A French NGO, CART ONG, is training locals in Haiti on how to use the drones for mapping and data collection. The digital images provide insight on areas that need attention, housing conditions, and the impact of migration on local rivers.
In the UK, as a search and rescue opps
Last July, AeroSee and the University of Central Lancashire piloted a new program in the UK's majestic Lake District where search and rescue can be a challenging task. Drones along with crowdsourcing are helping rescue teams find injured individuals in the mountainous terrain.
