World governments engage drone technology to combat COVID-19 pandemic

-Monica Aggarwal

In self-quarantine, people are using a drone to ask out their crush (as we all saw in a viral video). However, not just for asking out your crush, but drones can be used in more effective ways during the lockdown in a pandemic crisis.

In the time of social distancing, drone technology is emerging to be a useful tool for the delivery of medicines and other emergency services in the Coronavirus-stricken world. With shops and stores shut due to lockdown, unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs), or popularly known as drones, provide a prospective solution to the problem of inadequate and scattered supply of medicine and other essentials. Drones can help in safer delivery of critical medicines and vaccines during the 'touch-me-not' environment. 

And not just delivery of medical supplies, but drones are proving to be beneficial in monitoring the movement of people and spraying disinfectants around the streets amid the curfew imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus. Using drones to deliver vital supplies and ensure surveillance further helps in accelerating the process and reducing the need for human contact amidst the risk of Coronavirus infection and transmission. 

Governments across the world are exploring the potentials of drone technology in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Tech providers and innovators are collaborating with world governments to assist in the efforts to mitigate the ramifications of the pandemic.

Keeping people out higher-risk areas, drones are flying over skies in multiple countries including the US and India. Connecticut is the drone technology to detect virus symptoms in public places. Fitted with sensors and computer vision systems to measure body temperature and heart rates from up to 190 feet, the drones are being used to protect at-risk groups in the US state. Indian states are aggressively deploying drones to enforce the lockdown restrictions, sanitize high-risk zones and deliver essential supplies.

The UK police have been recruiting drones to detect the offenders of stay-at-home orders. Apart from medical supplies, drones are also being used to deliver groceries in some parts of China and Australia. Ghana government making use of delivery drones for Coronavirus tests in rural areas to speed up the testing process outside major cities in the country.

Notably, drone technology has been around for several years already but was not utilized to its full potential. In many countries, drones were deployed to transport blood and medicines to hospitals in remote locations. Now, with the advent of a global pandemic, drones can be put to better constructive use during the battle against COVID-19.