The benefits and controversies of drone technology |20 October 2017

The drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or an aircraft without a human pilot on board. The flight of the drone can be operated by a ground-based controller or autonomously by on board computers. It is essentially a flying robot and it has recently become very popular around the world, including here in Seychelles.

UAVs have been used by the military for surveillance, intelligence gathering and target attacks. Today, drones have a wide range of applicationsranging from search and rescue, firefighting, inspection of power and pipelines, traffic and weather surveillance to personal or business drone-based photography, as well as videography and even for delivery services.

Top drone models:

Top camera-drones for recreational and commercial use is the DJI Spark, DJI Mavic Pro and the DJI Phantom 4. The DJI Spark is small and can fit in and be launched from the palm of your hand. It is a powerful flying camera that you can take anywhere. This particular drone shoots 1080p videos and makes use of a mechanical gimbal for image stabilisation. It is packed with features such as the Shallow Focus photo mode where you can achieve professional DSLR camera-like, out of focus background.The DJI Spark can be controlled with your hands, remote controller, mobile devices or DJI Goggles. It has built-in GPS so it knows where it is, has the ability to sense obstacles and return home. It is considered one of the best drones in a price point that is accessible to most people.

Photo credit: DJI

The benefits of drone technology

Locally, drones are being used recreationally and in the tourism industry for aerial photography and videography. We have all enjoyed the short aerial videos played on SBC showing the splendour of our islands from an otherwise inaccessible point of view. A quick search on YouTube reveals a long list of epic landscape videos that have been filmed here in Seychelles.

UAVs are already being used in humanitarian responses around the world. The view from above is key as it helps with damage assessments, logistics mapping, distribution of goods and with search & rescue. Drones were used after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013 and also in Haiti following hurricane Sandy in 2012. More recently, they were deployed in response to the massive flooding in the Balkans and after the earthquake in China.

The Australia-based Mexican food chain Guzman y Gomez and pharmacy chain Chemist Warehouse teamed up with Project Wing to experiment the delivery of food and medicines using drones. Customers living in a rural area of Australia are helping test the delivery system by purchasing items via a phone app and have burritos delivered at their doorsteps.

Amazon Prime Air is the new delivery system from the tech giant Amazon using unmanned aerial vehicles. The aim is to make use of drones to enhance the delivery service given to their customers. Packages that are of no more than 2.3kgs will be delivered in 30 minutes by Primer Air, a service that they hope in the future will be just as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in the U.S. are set to deploy drones as part of their programme so as to be able to resolve “dangerous, high-risk tactical situations and improve situational awareness capabilities during natural disasters and catastrophic incidents”. Despite the benefit of UAVs, this news has sparked heated debates between the law enforcement and privacy advocates.

Drone controversies

Despite the plethora of benefits and applications, the drones are vulnerable to controversies; they raise significant privacy issues and civil liberties as well as the possibility of accidents. A drone crashed into a commercial airplane in Quebec City's Jean Lesage International Airport on Thursday October 12, 2017. The plane landed safely and sustained only minor damages; however this highlights the rapidly growing concern from the authorities on the increased use of drones by consumers and the danger that the remote-controlled devices pose to planes.

Drone users in the U.S have been prosecuted for flying drones near a range of buildings and events and for smuggling drugs to prisons. A man in the U.K. was charged with flying a drone too close to Buckingham Palace, while another in Singapore was arrested for flying a drone at the Marina Barrage during the National Day Parade.

The UAV System International states the general drone laws:

• Do not fly your drone over people or crowds of people
• Respect other people’s privacy when flying your drone
• Do not fly your drone near military installations, power plants or any other area that could cause concern among local authorities
• Do not fly your drone near airports or in areas where aircraft are operating
• You must fly during daylight hours and only fly in good weather conditions

As a result of such controversies, the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) is working on a regulation for the operation of UAVs in Seychelles so as to also ensure the continued safety of the flying zone and aircraft.

Sources: International Civil Aviation Organisation,CNN, CNBC, LA Times, UAV Systems International, My First Drone, Newsweek, Amazon, iRevolutions