The world’s biggest remote work experiment has been unleashed by COVID-19 and much of that has to do with drones and robots. This proves once again that with crisis comes opportunity and that is true with our present Coronavirus pandemic as well. And drones and robots play a key role in the ability to take advantage of this most serious crisis. Many have realized how a drone monitors, detects and aids with the pandemic.
Many of us may have seen a video that went viral on social media in February, which showed an astonished Chinese woman being lectured to by a drone as the drone monitors the village. In essence, the policeman who was using the drone told the grandmother that the drone was speaking to her and that she should not be outside without a mask and that she should not be outside at all. She was told to go back home and not to forget to wash her hands.
Such a technique is being used outside urban areas because people are likely to feel less vulnerable from the risk of crossing paths with someone carrying COVID-19.
What message from a drone would not catch a person’s attention?
This spares the police from having to confront and admonish the person face to face. It is no wonder that authorities are increasingly turning to drones to patrol streets, parks, etc., and manufacturers are equipped to meet the demand.
There is no reason that the “new normal” in China can’t be the new normal everywhere else whereby our cities can become dynamic centers where everything is tracked and analyzed for rapid decision-making in real-time.
The Coronavirus has encouraged opportunities that are unique, like the fully digitized platforms for the future of much of our work-force. Business platforms will allow us to revolutionize no-contact, independent retail.
Prompted by the virus outbreak, zero-contact distributions, self-driving freights, robo-taxis and other forms of independent navigation, are now exploding business opportunities.
Thanks to drones and robots (driverless vehicles), cities are finding that they can be equipped with early-warning mechanisms to rapidly detect infection, notify communities, and stem the spread of the deadly virus before it begins.
Authorities struggle, at times, to convince people to curb their instincts and spend less time outside, especially when the weather is good. However drones are useful outside urban areas, where people are inclined to feel they run less risk of crossing paths with COVID-19.
Drones and robots are now servicing hospitals and communities alike with touch-free delivery of everything from coffee to fresh vegetables. Drone monitors and aids in transportation of medical supplies.
After completing a route, drones and robots automatically return to their station where they are disinfected and continue delivery. In some hospitals in China, it is not unheard of that these robots can even provide contact-free delivery service to as many as 20 wards, on average.
We now have the ability to instantaneously share information, make collective decisions, and harness technology.
Drones in China right now are sharing information on a loudspeaker, spraying disinfectant, delivering packages, and taking people’s temperatures. The temperature measurement is done by using infrared thermal imaging technology and is not only more accurate than a human being, but it also enhances the efficiency and speeds up the process of evacuation of community personnel. At the same time, it also reduces the close contact between community workers and residents and thus reduces the risk of secondary infection.
We have every reason to expect that we will soon have the ability to instantaneously share information, make collective decisions, and harness technology that we know little about at this moment as the drone monitors and aids.
It is anticipated that the Draganfly will be extremely important in stopping the spread of the virus pandemic with its breakthrough in health diagnosis. The Draganflyer Commander UAV is a miniature helicopter that is remotely operated and designed to carry wireless camera systems. The Draganfly drones (also called “pandemic drones”) will be fitted with a specialized sensor and computer vision system that can monitor temperature, heart and respiratory rates. These drones have the capability to detect people sneezing and coughing in public crowds, airlines, cruise ships, convention centers, border crossings, critical infrastructure facilities, and other places where groups of people meet to work or just congregate. This sophisticated technology can also be used in critical areas such as nursing homes, where our most vulnerable people live, our elderly.
Draganfly will also be used as a global system in conjunction with projects in Australia and eventually all over the world.
With the anticipation of future viruses, sophisticated technology, such as the Draganfly, will become indispensable in helping our nations’ current COVID-19 virus, but also assist us in being more proactive in seeking to prevent future health crises. It is able not only to monitor and detect respiratory and other health issues, but its data can also be used to track outbreaks in order to more fully understand present and future trends. With this increased knowledge of both present and future trends, intervention can be deployed more rapidly and with greater effectiveness. Such versatile automation will ensure a greater measure of public safety with a more accurate understanding of present and future trends in health.
