The sale of drones are on the increase with each passing year and more and more people are embracing the idea of owning such devices. With all the attention, these unmanned aerial vehicles are now finding more practical and innovative uses.
The word “drone” has been explained differently and from divers perspectives which originated from the old English word drān, drǣn, which means ‘male bee’.
Drones can be seen as “An unmanned aircraft or ship that can navigate autonomously, without human control or beyond the line of sight”. Another frequently used definition is: “Drone is any unmanned aircraft or ship that is guided remotely”.
Drones can fly in both Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and non satellite modes. For example Da Jiang Innovations (DJI) drones can fly in P-Mode (GPS & GLONASS) or ATTI mode, which doesn’t use satellite navigation.
More often drones are used to get work done faster and timely. With the help of thermal sensors, drones can locate lost persons and are especially useful at night or even in challenging terrains. Despite drones been quick and accurate, it is also use for supplying food and medical services to deprived and unreachable areas.
In resent times many African Countries have adopted drone technology to enhance their lives as well as development.
Countries like Ghana and Rwanda can be said to be some of the few African Nations that has adopted the use of drone in their health sectors.
Ghana is the second country to Zipline’s live operations program. Zipline got off the ground in Rwanda and has leveraged its experience in East Africa to begin testing medical delivery services in the United States.
The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo has said the medical drones in the country will be the world’s largest. According to him, “The drone delivery service will save lives, decrease wastage in the system, guarantee healthcare access for more than 14 million people nationwide, and employ over 200 Ghanaians.”
Furthermore drones are also used to enforce law and security – these devices have the ability of hovering around locations without drawing much attention to itself. Thus, this can be used for surveillance or for public safety.
Unmanned aerial vehicles can be use to detect and as well give accurate and vivid information at crime scenes.
The media world has adopted the idea of using drones for its effectiveness.
Drones have helped in bringing out great aerial view and high quality Documentaries in Ghana. Some of these Documentaries are used to target developmental projects such as the activities of Galamsey in Ghana and showing the overview beautiful landscapes in Ghana.
Journalist have benefited from the ability of drones to reach where no human efforts can reach.
Drones in some countries are used for commercial purposes by delivering goods and services in order to curb hard and difficult human efforts. Amazon is working on its resources to facilitate 30-minute delivery services by means of drones.
Another example is when Google launched its first drone delivery service. Which is said to deliver food and drinks as well as medication directly to clients’ homes.
Notwithstanding, drone technology is advancing quickly with amazing uses that can also help in the area of development. The intriguing part is where some African countries have adopted the use of drones for various useful activities for growth.
Drones can be considered to have become a part of technological advancement in human life and the way drones are helping countries, organizations and individuals, one cannot tell what more benefit we will be getting from drone technology.
By: Adu Boahen Mabel and Neizer
