The smart drone was developed by engineers from Australia and tech specialists from Canada. Amid the coronavirus crisis, such ‘pandemic drone’ could detect coronavirus symptoms using special sensors and computer vision, Springwise reports.
Amid the uneasy and frightening situation caused by the novel virus, the help of smart technologies is really helping. For instance, the ability to identify those infected with COVID-19 while honouring social distancing guidelines is a major challenge for healthcare workers and others on the frontlines of fighting the pandemic.
In the unhealthy situation across the globe, one of the major problems in controlling an epidemic such as newly-registered COVID-19 is not knowing who is infected and how widespread the disease is in an area where you live.
The original and smart solution was found by the researchers from the University of South Australia and Canada-based drone technology specialist, Draganfly Inc. The specialists have teamed up to develop a “pandemic drone”. Their technology uses special sensors and computer vision to detect those that are infected with respiratory diseases.
Anti-pandemic drone could minimize the spreading of COVID-19
Remote sensing and computer algorithms are more practical ways of detecting the virus. This new drone works in crowds, which could include offices, airports, cruise ships, and care homes, and is able to monitor a person’s temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate, and detect sneezing and coughing.
In fact, this technology was originally unveiled in 2017 when the engineers demonstrated its ability to measure heart and breathing rates. The system was even able to analyse human movements to detect coughing and sneezing at a distance of up to 10 metres with a drone and within 50 metres from fixed cameras. In other words, under the current virus situation, technology is optimal.
To summarize, exploring the use of remote sensing and computer algorithms make perfect sense. Even if such drones are not deployable in time to help with the current health crisis, they would likely come in handy is combatting future outbreaks. And that fact is really inspiring.
