When you think of drones, you probably picture a military unmanned aerial vehicle or a remote-controlled flying saucer in your local park. But, this isn’t the full picture of how this technology is (and will be) impacting our daily lives. The drone has uses related to natural disasters, the environment, public health, agriculture, commerce, infrastructure, and more. Here are some ways our lives will be better because of this technology.
#9) Find a seat on the metro
You get on the metro and you can’t find a seat. No surprise there. Do you just stay in the corner you were able to squeeze into, holding on for dear life, or do you brave through the crowd to find a seat? Drones will soon be there to save the day (and your tired legs). One drone enthusiast imagines a future where drones will become “a wearable people detector for the deep dark tunnels of the New York City subway—one that will solve the recurring problem of being oblivious to an empty subway seat opening up directly behind you and then losing that seat to another rider”.
To get ahead of the game and grab that seat check out: Drones for the Metro
#8) Deliver food
Yes, you read that correctly. And no, this isn’t Instacart, Blue Apron, or Ubereats. In Singapore, one food delivery service company is using drones to fly your dinner directly to your door. It cuts the wait time in half (which means no more cold take-out) and is available through the use of a single app.
Hungry? Check out the service: Foodpanda tests drone deliveries in Singapore
#7) Create art
Watch out Rothko, MIT Fluid Interfaces Lab created a drone that is programmed to mimic a person drawing. “The drone is programmed with different kinds of responsiveness which in turn lead to different kinds of drawing output, from more precise motion tracking to a very loose responsiveness to guidance. What happens in result is a human-guided but distinctly robotic artistic product, a collaboration in which neither party is fully in control.”
Get inspired: Drones good at spying, shooting, and now art
#6) Monitor and maintain agriculture and farming
We know drones can fly over vast tracts of lands, but did you know that by combining drones and artificial intelligence, drones can help farmers be more precise? These drones can identify a plant that is in stress 10 days before the human eye. This means that farmers can target treatment at specific high-risk plants, increasing yields. Infection? Dehydration? Pests? These drones can identify them all.
Thinking about application to your tomato garden? Drones for Farming
#5) Survey wildlife in remote areas
Traditionally, wildlife are studied and monitored through on-the-ground methods. These methods can miscount or even overlook hard-to-reach populations, like canopy-resting birds and elephants. Yes, apparently a herd of African elephants, weighing on average 19 thousand pounds each, is difficult to track. Drones are changing the game. With a higher precision count, drones are able to go into remote locations that would be very difficult for researchers to observe.
Get ready for your next wilderness adventure, read more: Nature Scientific Report
#4) Examine infrastructure including highways, roads, and bridges
Tired of getting a flat from that pothole down the street? Convinced that the city doesn’t even know it exists? Drones are now being considered in the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to address this. They are also a potential solution for other transportation-related challenges such as highway bridges, tunnels, and inspecting aircrafts.
Click here to find out how to fix the potholes in your city: Massachusetts DOT Explores Use of Drones for Infrastructure Inspections
#3) Launch into the air from the depths of the ocean (AIR and WATER drone!)
You thought drones could only fly? Researchers at Johns Hopkins developed a drone that can be submerged under water for up to 2 months AND launch itself into the air. This gives massive flexibility for various missions for our military.
Check out the agility of this machine here: Johns Hopkins UAV Press Release
#2) Rescue earthquake victims
In April 2015, Nepal was devastated by a deadly earthquake that took the lives of over 8,000 people and injured over 20,000 others. The challenging rescue effort was further complicated by crumbling infrastructure, impending aftershocks, and difficulty reaching remote areas of the country. Luckily, drones allowed for quick aerial 2D and 3D mapping that could give real-time maps of changes in infrastructure, roads, and bridges. Drones were also able to locate survivors and even detect their faces.
Check out how these drones can help save lives: Drones and digital mappers boost Nepal rescue
#1) Deliver medicine
Imagine living in a remote village in Sub-Saharan Africa. You need to have a family member tested for HIV/AIDS. You know that the resources are available in the region but are largely inaccessible due to the distance and road conditions during the rainy season. What do you do? Drones could soon be the answer. UNICEF and Matternet, a California-based company, have joined forces to test a drone that will be able to transport blood samples from rural HIV clinics to be tested.
See how drones are giving people access to health care: Using drones to save lives in Malawi
BONUS: Visit the report published by AUVSI to explore more examples of how drones are changing the World through wildlife mapping, agricultural monitoring, disaster management, thermal infrared power line surveys, law enforcement, telecommunications, weather monitoring, aerial imaging/ mapping, television news coverage, sporting events, moviemaking, environmental monitoring, oil and gas exploration, and freight transport.
