Category: Drones & UAVs

Posted on

Patrick Meier: Humanitarian UAV Strategy

Drones & UAVs
Patrick Meier
Patrick Meier

Humanitarian UAV Network: Strategy for 2014-2015

The purpose of the Humanitarian UAV Network (UAViators) is to guide the responsible and safe use of small UAVs in humanitarian settings while promoting information sharing and enlightened policymaking. As I’ve noted in the past, UAVs are already being used to support a range of humanitarian efforts. So the question is not if, but rather how to facilitate the inevitable expanded use of UAVs in a responsible and safe manner. This is just one of many challenging questions that UAViators was created to manage.

UAViators has already drafted a number of documents, including a Code of Conduct and an Operational Check-List for the use of UAVs in humanitarian settings.

Read full post.

Posted on

Sepp Hasslberger: Drones that Save Lives – Made in … Iran

Drones & UAVs
Sepp Hasslberger
Sepp Hasslberger

Who would have thought it … drones that actually can save lives. Made in … Iran. 

From www.youtube.com – May 17, 5:52 PM

We've seen how drones can be a crucial asset to search and rescue operations, but Iran's RTS Lab has taken an entirely new angle. RTS's Pars drone carries a payload of life preservers that can be delivered to a drowning swimmer far faster than a lifeguard.

As we saw in testing in the Caspian Sea, the drone can also work at night, using bright lights, biothermal sensors, and a built-in camera to stream video to rescuers on shore.

The concept works well, and it's an excellent example of how powerful drones—which are cheaper and easier to use than just about any other aerial delivery vehicle—can actually be. Here in the US, where the FAA remains steadfast in its desire to squelch the nascent commercial drone industry, this Iranian drone built of Chinese parts sets an example of what can be done when we set our eyes to the skies to do good.

Posted on

David Swanson: Localities Reining in Federal Government – Sixth City Passes Anti-Drone Resolution

Civil Society, Drones & UAVs, Ethics, Peace Intelligence
David Swanson
David Swanson

Leverett Becomes Sixth City to Pass Anti-Drone Resolution

Here are the other five.

Leverett and Amherst, Mass., both were expected to consider resolutions. I haven't heard any news from Amherst.

The Leverett news is courtesy of Beth Adams.

I haven't seen official text, but here's some idea of what was passed, or at least what was considered for passage, in Leverett:

The Recorder:

Town meeting in Leverett will consider a resolution calling on the federal government to end the use of drones for assassinations on foreign soil and to enact regulations on the use of the unmanned aircraft in the United States.

It would ask U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey and U.S. Rep. James McGovern to bring forward legislation “to end the practice of extrajudicial killing by armed drone aircraft” by withholding money for that purpose and “to make restitution for injuries, fatalities and environmental damage resulting from the actions of the United States government, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, allied nations and/or its private contractors.”

Continue reading “David Swanson: Localities Reining in Federal Government – Sixth City Passes Anti-Drone Resolution”

Posted on

Patrick Meier: Operational Checklist for Flying UAVs in Humanitarian Settings

Drones & UAVs, Innovation, Sources (Info/Intel)
Patrick Meier
Patrick Meier

An Operational Check-List for Flying UAVs in Humanitarian Settings

The Humanitarian UAV Network (UAViators) has taken off much faster than I expected. More than 240 members in 32 countries have joined the network since it’s launch just a few weeks ago.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the number of humanitarian organizations that got in touch with me right after the launch. Many of them are just starting to explore this space. And I found it refreshing that every single one of them considers the case for humanitarian UAVs to be perfectly obvious. Almost all of the groups also mentioned how they would have made use of UAVs in recent disasters. Some are even taking steps now to set up rapid-response UAV teams.

Click on Image to Enlarge
Click on Image to Enlarge

My number one priority after launching the network was to start working on a Code of Conduct to guide the use of UAVs in humanitarian settings—the only one of it’s kind as far as I know. While I had initially sought to turn this Code of Conduct into a check-list, it became clear from the excellent feedback provided by members and the Advisory Board that we needed two separate documents. So my RA’s and I have created a more general Code of Conduct along with a more detailed operational check-list for flying UAVs in humanitarian settings. You’ll find the check-list here. Big thanks to Advisory Board member Gene Robinson for letting me draw on his excellent book for this check-list. Both the Code of Conduct and Check-List will continue to be updated on a monthly basis, so please do chime in and help us improve them.

Continue reading “Patrick Meier: Operational Checklist for Flying UAVs in Humanitarian Settings”

Posted on

Patrick Meier: Humanitarian UAV Network

Drones & UAVs
Patrick Meier
Patrick Meier

The Humanitarian UAV Network (UAViators) is now live. Click here to access and join the network. Advisors include representatives from 3D Robotics, AirDroids, senseFly & DroneAdventures, OpenRelief, ShadowView Foundation, ICT4Peace Foundation, the United Nations and more. The website provides a unique set of resources, including the most comprehensive case study of humanitarian UAV deployments, a directory of organizations engaged in the humanitarian UAV space and a detailed list of references to keep track of ongoing research in this rapidly evolving area. All of these documents along with the network’s Code of Conduct—the only one of it’s kind—are easily accessible here.

Learn more.

Posted on

Facebook: Drones, Lasers, and Satellites for Internet Access

Advanced Cyber/IO, Drones & UAVs

facebookFacebook looks to drones, lasers and satellites for Internet access

(CNN) — Two thirds of the world population does not have Internet access. Facebook already has more than a billion users on its service, but before it can sign up the rest of world it needs to get them online.

The social media company announced a new step in its ambitious plan to bring affordable, basic Internet access to “every person in the world.” Facebook's new Connectivity Lab will research and test experimental technology including drones, satellites and lasers to spread the reach of the Internet to isolated locations that currently do not have Internet.

“We've been working on ways to beam Internet to people from the sky,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a post announcing the new effort.

Last year, Facebook announced Internet.org, a coalition of major tech companies working together to lower barriers to Internet access using more traditional methods, such as making it cheaper to get Internet on cell phones. Those efforts have been responsible for getting 3 million more people online, according to Zuckerberg.

Continue reading “Facebook: Drones, Lasers, and Satellites for Internet Access”

Posted on

Facebook: New Initiative, Connectivity Lab, to Bring Internet to Remote Areas

Advanced Cyber/IO, Drones & UAVs

facebookFacebook Initiative to Bring Internet to Remote Areas

Facebook Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company is launching a Connectivity Lab, a team of scientists tasked with bringing the Internet to remote places on the planet using new techniques, including beaming it down from the sky.

Facebook Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company is launching a Connectivity Lab, a team of scientists tasked with bringing the Internet to remote places on the planet using new techniques, including beaming it down from the sky.

Continue reading “Facebook: New Initiative, Connectivity Lab, to Bring Internet to Remote Areas”