American humanitarian group to start testing drones for relief efforts

abiola

September 8, 2017 5:45 PM

With these drones, the impact of a disaster would be measurable to best direct relief efforts and also speed up insurance pay outs to whom it is due.

The American Red Cross is partnering with UPS Foundation and drone manufacturer CyPhy Works to bring drones to sites of natural disasters.

How this is to work is by fixing the drones to the ground to evaluate damages through constant aerial observations.

With a generator providing power and an attached zoom camera providing surveillance miles around the drone, the impact of a disaster would be measurable to best direct relief efforts and also speed up insurance pay outs to whom it is due.

The parties involved have agreed to launch a one week, onsite trial in an area heavily flooded by Hurricane Harvey. If successful, it could be used again following Hurricane Irma.

Boston-based CyPhy Works has been tested in events such as the Boston Marathon which saw hours of surveillance provided to the Boston Police Department. With the Red Cross, the drones will be taken out of Boston and into locations potentially without a power grid or general utilities.

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