Active Monitoring Drone

Smaller and cheaper than current drones, these remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) are the next step of the exponential price-performance adoption curve drones received over the last few years. They are controlled through smartphones or tablet devices and equipped with cameras, sensors, and navigation systems. Sizewise, these drones could fit into your palm or pocket and operate by sending high-resolution videos or snapping images every one or two seconds.

While connected through WiFi or Bluetooth, these drones can monitor urban spaces for disease spread control and monitoring. In such cases, they can effectively spray disinfectants, patrol public areas, monitor containment zones, or make public announcements whenever needed. The images captured by the camera embedded in the drone could be used for further analysis or even added to predictive data systems for quality information improvement.

Besides monitoring and management, drones are an excellent fit for agricultural practices. While applying pesticides often involves the use of large quantities of hazardous agents, and spraying over a vast area can impact both the cost and health of workers, active monitoring drones could spare humans from performing these tasks. As they are unmanned, these drones could help explore hazardous environments like an active volcano or even climate mapping.

Drones can be agile and accurate enough to apply just the right amount of pesticide at a specific location. However, present-day drone battery life and payload are limiting factors, both of which require additional field research to overcome these obstacles.

Future Perspectives

With lower prices, this technology will be available to more people and possibly target smaller producers and beginner farmers. It would also represent a means of monitoring production and increasing efficiency at a lower cost, without needing human employees or big machinery performing the same tasks.

Image generated by Envisioning using Midjourney