Even as we look forward to the time when the lockdowns will end, and we can go back to life as we have known it, or at least fairly close to what we have gotten used to, we are hoping for a “new normal” that is more normal than new. However, we all want to make sure it will be safe for us to do so. That means remaining free of the deadly virus, especially given the fact that there is still no confirmed cure. Disinfectant Drone
The good news is that there seems to be a new disinfectant drone that is capable of disinfecting large indoor spaces. It is based in Louisiana and called Omni Environmental Solutions. It has announced a new drone disinfection system that sprays a fine mist of chemicals over wide areas. This company says that it is experimenting with various EPA-approved liquid disinfectants, according to a spokesperson, who stated: “The availability of agents changes daily, and we stay apprised of the differences and how it affects dispersion.”*
The Omni Drone Disinfection Systems DigitalAerolus
The Omni Drone Disinfection System uses an 8-rotor drone that can carry 10 liters of disinfectant and the company plans to cover large venues, including covered stadiums, sports arenas, convention centers, warehouses, movie theaters, etc.
Omni will choose a substance they believe can kill the coronavirus and 99.9% of bacteria within a mere 60 seconds, which is five times faster than another disinfectant drone, by DigitalAerolus, that uses high-energy ultraviolet light. The process that DigitalAerolus utilizes is shining light on a surface for five minutes to achieve disinfection.
Although Omni is in “advanced stages of testing the drone,” they are very confident that they will be able to begin serving clients around April 15, 2020. Pricing is one of the issues, which includes providing FAA Part 107 certified flight crews. They point out that there are numerous clients that they are providing COVID-19 disinfection services and have received many interested customers.
The OmniDrone Disinfection System utilizes an 8-rotor drone that can carry 10 liters of disinfectant. With that, the company aims to cover large venues, including covered stadiums, sports arenas, convention centers, warehouses, and movie theaters.
The Digital Aeolus’ Aertos UAV
The Digital Aeolus makes a drone, called the Aertos UAV, that uses high-energy ultraviolet light and has proven to be effective. Although it is not as fast as the OmniDrone, it flies autonomously within buildings and is equipped to navigate interior spaces, without relying on GPS or other external aids. According to the company, its artificial intelligence mimics the human brain’s ability to recognize obstacles, and thus, preemptively, the drone steers around them. Because of this navigational ability, the Aertos UAV is marketed for use inspecting confined spaces, such as factories or mines.
The Digital Aerolus’ Aertos UAV 120-UVC
With the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, Digital Aerolus has developed a new version of its drone (Aertos UAV) for indoor disinfection called the Aertos 120-UVC, a quadcopter that is equipped with 36 LEDs that shine ultraviolet light.
UV light is simply not enough, because on earth we usually encounter UV-A and UV-B light from sunshine. Therefore, the Aertos 120-UVC uses more potent UV-C light, with a wavelength of 265 nanometers. UV-C light has been used as a disinfectant since the 1950s, when it was discovered to be effective at destroying airborne pathogens, including viruses. Because airborne pathogens are also dangerous to humans, the UV-C lights are typically installed above people’s heads and the air is irradiated at the very top of a room. Natural convection currents ensured that all the air in a room would eventually float up to the zone that killed the pathogens, without exposing the people below. Digital Aerolus claims it has used the drone to successfully disinfect a daycare center.
Future
What better time to have three options available, as we are going through a very difficult time in our history!
As two to three thousand of our beloved citizens are dying on a daily basis, we need to do our best to seek out methods of increasing the safety of others, especially the most vulnerable in our nation.
May they rest in peace and may we be as careful as possible to stay healthy and be safe!
Sean Captain, “New disinfecting drone fights COVID-19 with ultraviolet light” (April 6, 2020)
