Is It A Bird, A Plane…? It’s A Drone!

Context: Drones are remote controlled, global positioning system-(GPS) and sensor-enabled flying robots. The technology is finding applications in all walks of life.

Applications of drone technology

• Delivery system-based applications:
  • Tackling mosquito menace: To spray anti-larval oil at inaccessible spots, by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of Mumbai had resulted in 54% reduction in incidence of Malaria during 2021 monsoon.
  • Retail aerial delivery systems: Drones to dramatically cut down delivery times, diminish traffic tangles and save logistics costs, apart from being more environment friendly.
  • In agriculture sector, drones used for shooting seeds into a field and for spraying pesticides.
  • For extending connectivity: Drones to emit radio/ video signals in remote areas, cutting costs.
• Surveillance/Monitoring based applications:
  • Military applications: Used for border surveillance at heights difficult for humans to get to and for mapping and enhanced preparedness.
  • Remote inspections of greenfield projects: Andhra Pradesh used drones coupled with 3D imaging enabled walk-throughs for inspections, led to project acceleration and enhanced quality of work.
  • Inspection of ageing infrastructure and buildings: Drone feeds, combined with 3D imaging, to create digital twins of infrastructure projects for exploring various what-if scenarios.
  • Check power thefts: Electricity distribution companies using them to identify illegal line connections and take corrective actions.
  • Monitoring of water and gas pipelines: For pre-emptive actions to prevent leaks.
  • Application at remote oil fields and mines: Augmenting surveillance for safety and enabling movement of vehicles without collisions and visual, volumetric measurement of their stockpiles.
  • Policing force augmentation: In sensitive areas, at sensitive times, they are used to identify unusual activity to prevent conflagrations. Technology helps in managing road traffic better.
  • Ideal for taking pictures to enable analysis of crop and soil health, and assessments relating to use of fertilisers and irrigation practices.
  • Aerial photography: Extensively used in social events(weddings) and in cinema and news media.
• A prospective future: Towards development of drones with advanced AI capability, air taxis and miniaturised drones.

Conclusion: Timely policy liberalisation to help expansion of applications - As GoI recently increased allowable payload for drones to 500 kg, reduced fees, eased registration rules, and annulled some tedious approvals and superfluous security clearances, highlighting a business-friendly stance.