Drones are becoming more prolific worldwide. They can deliver medical supplies, make dangerous jobs safer and protect endangered species. Some are even planting trees and fighting fires! However, their potential is hampered by regulations in many countries as Governments struggle to harness their benefits and minimise risks.
Autonomous Blood Drones
The Swiss recently launched a network of autonomous blood delivery drones. It’s the first drone network of its kind and is connecting hospitals across densely populated urban areas by delivering blood samples. A connected APP schedules delivery and a unique QR code unlocks the samples at the receiving end. The network aims to accelerate diagnosis and improve medical care and is also being piloted in Africa.
The future of our skies
On 26th June in Zurich, Switzerland, the future of the skies was being debated by progressive Government and Industry leaders. To overcome the current challenges of drone regulation, it’s become more necessary for public-private participatory forums to drive agile policymaking. The World Economic Forum has created the Drone Innovators Network as a platform to bring together pioneering aviation authorities to share research, best practices, and innovative new policies.
Drone carrying parcel
It will be challenging to develop a singular policy framework since every nation has differences in airspaces and approaches to privacy. The World Economic Forum maintains that: “While bringing together progressive aviation policymakers is an important foundation, it is the multi-stakeholder community of civil society leaders, entrepreneurs from the technology community, academic mentors, and industry experts that provide context and input that are unique to the World Economic Forum mission.”
This is important work since regulations that are formulated today will define the operating systems of tomorrow. These will shape the way we democratise the sky for all of humanity.
The Jetsons and the Drone Network
It’s hard to imagine our skies resembling an open-source domain where people and cargo move around like the characters in the cartoon show from the 60’s The Jetsons. They were constantly swerving and diving to destinations at will? Will aviation transportation be handled by a single authority that ensures safe, but ultimately rigid movement?
There is clearly a long way to go to realize this technological evolution, but the rules and policies we implement today will have a dramatic impact on how the future takes shape.
8 new Drone inventions that will blow your mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWFEWg9oMFY&t=2s
At Creative Imagineering our small team of talented #girl geeks love to keep ahead of tech trends. So if you enjoyed this article, why not read this one on the 4th Industrial Revolution and Tech-infused workspaces are the future.
Original Article appeared on World Economic Forum.