Dropping off medicine, easing traffic... drones are cleared for take-off
Councils told by ministers to come up with ideas to bring unmanned aircraft into widespread use
FLEETS of civilian drones could soon be darting through the skies, delivering urgent medical supplies, easing traffic congestion and helping emergency services, according to a Government-backed scheme launched today.
Local authorities are being asked to help develop ideas for how drones can “meet the needs and realities of urban life”, as the use of the unmanned craft rapidly grows.
Five towns and cities will be chosen to work with engineers and planners to eventually become test beds for new civilian uses of drones, with the first ideas taking to the air in 2019. The scheme is intended to make Britain a world leader in shaping the burgeoning technology, as drones move out of the hands of amateur enthusiasts and the military and into widespread use.
Councils are being asked to take part in the Flying High Challenge after the Department for Transport said it would pass a new drone safety law to regulate the craft and prevent accidents.
The draft Drone Bill, which will be published next spring, will give police powers to order operators to ground drones, and will demand that operators pass safety tests.
Any law is also expected to ensure drone-free zones around airports, and may suggest height limits. A string of reported near misses with aircraft have raised concerns about the safety of growing numbers of unmanned craft in the sky. There have also been concerns that they will breach people’s privacy.
Baroness Sugg, the aviation minister, said: “Drones have great potential, and we want to do everything possible to harness the benefits of this technology as it develops. These new laws strike a balance, to allow the vast majority of drone users to continue flying safely and responsibly, while also paving the way for drone technology to revolutionise businesses and public services.”
One suggested use for drones is carrying out safety inspections on tall buildings and towers. Network Rail already uses them to scan and monitor lengths of track.
They could also be flown above congested roads to reach accidents and incidents, and evaluate the scene before emergency services arrive.
Drones fitted with infrared sensors could also help firefighters to spot people trapped in blazes, or better direct hoses. A drone supplied by Kent Fire and Rescue was used to survey the ruins of Grenfell Tower after its fire.
Unmanned aircraft are already being used to ferry blood stocks and drugs to remote clinics and hospitals in parts of Africa, and could do the same in Britain.
Amazon has already promised to revolutionise the delivery business with its own fleet of drones dropping off purchases to a customer’s door.
Tris Dyson, director of the innovation foundation Nesta’s Centre for Challenge Prizes, which is running the scheme, said: “If we are going to have drones in our towns and cities, they must be fit for our society. By finding uses for the technology – beyond toys for hobbyists or use in conflict – the UK can establish itself as a world leader in drones.
“We need to commit to finding approaches that work at the local level, and meet the needs of people without risk to public safety or nuisance.”
‘By finding uses for the technology, the UK can establish itself as a world leader in drones’
A popular gift this Christmas will be a drone. These gadgets have fallen significantly in price and are well within the pockets of people feeling generous at this time of year. Yet even though they can be dangerous to aircraft (there were 70 near-misses last year) or be excessively intrusive, anyone can operate one. Unlike a car, neither a test of aptitude nor a licence is required. The law is way behind the technology and the Government is now, belatedly, planning legislation to regulate their use. Drone users will have to register machines above a certain size with the authorities and undergo safety awareness tests. Can a Drone Tax be far behind?