They didn’t win big but proud of their innovations for refugees

What does one do when a “sneaky” immigrant or refugee is trying to swim into your country? You build a drone that can detect them coming in — this was the message and invention from a Portuguese company at the UAE Drones for Good Awards.

Eduardo Pinto, one of the creators of the Drones 4 Right 2 Life project, made it clear that the drone wasn’t built to “save lives”, instead to detect immigrants on boats who are trying to come into a country. Pinto’s team did not win any of the prizes, but they were still very proud of their invention.

Pinto said: “This is a waterproof drone that helps detects immigrants in the Mediterranean Sea. There would be a network of drones over the sea that can detect. In Portugal, we have a problem with lots immigrants coming in. We are trying to present a solution.

“Lots of Syrian refugees died while trying to cross the ocean so they can go to Europe, but that’s very dangerous. Our drones will help detect if they are doing something like that.” Another drone at the competition tapped into the topic of refugees, war and terror – however, they aimed to save lives.

Rafael Mongelos, one of the ‘Mine Kafon’ drone creators, said: “The drone detects and detonates landmines. Landmines are explosions that are underground and they are used in war. “These explosions are below the ground and almost every minute someone is injured by them. The drone can detect and disarm landmine at a safe distance.