Humanitarian Applications of Drones in the Drone Valley

In the eyes of most people, drones can sometimes feel like something out of a sci-fi movie. However, the booming industry has shifted the perception of drones from future technology to current innovation that can help improve lives around the world. One place where this is especially evident is in Switzerland, which has been dubbed “drone valley” for the over 80 drone-related start-ups that have set up shop between Lausanne and Zurich.

These start-ups are developing and testing the latest innovations in drone technology, many of which have a humanitarian focus. One such example is senseFly, which has developed a highly automated drone that can capture aerial images of up to 10 square kilometres and create detailed maps in a matter of minutes. Such data can be used by surveyors, mining site managers, farmers and landowners to better manage their properties and make decisions.

Another drone company making waves is Wingtra, which has created a fixed-wing drone that can fly at high speeds and take high-resolution pictures of objects from the air. The drone, which is called a quadcopter but can be flown both indoors and outdoors, can also carry sensors that can detect and measure environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and light. The data can then be processed by artificial intelligence to predict and alert users to potential problems.

Several other companies have turned drones into humanitarian solutions by using them to deliver medical supplies and vaccines to remote locations. In Rwanda, for example, Zipline has been able to provide lifesaving blood products via drone to district hospitals and health centers in mountainous areas that are hard to reach by road. It is a project that has helped to combat the spread of Rift Valley Fever, which is devastating the country’s livestock and agriculture sectors.

Drones have also been used to monitor the safety of critical infrastructure in some countries, including nuclear power plants and oil refineries. In addition to ensuring the safety of staff, this type of surveillance can help to prevent potential security breaches and provide early warning systems for possible disasters.

In some cases, the use of drones has been controversial. For instance, in 2018 two drone manufacturers were banned from flying over the US White House because they violated privacy laws by recording people without their consent. This is a problem that is likely to be overcome as drone technology becomes more mainstream and the need for privacy-protecting software and hardware is realised.

As the drone industry continues to grow, new applications and industries will emerge. It is important for entrepreneurs to stay ahead of the curve and identify opportunities to innovate with this emerging technology. If you are not already familiar with the industry, it is a good idea to start learning about drones by purchasing your own and flying them as a hobbyist in order to understand how this technology will continue to evolve and expand. If you have a business background, it is useful to understand how you can incorporate drones into your company’s strategy by speaking with other CEOs of drone-related businesses and researching the market.