Blog
16th January 2024
Introduction:
Drones have gained significant attention since their inception due to the immense potential they offer. They are increasingly being used for social purposes, particularly in rural areas. Since drones are capable of reaching remote locations and have various other functionalities, they are being explored for applications in healthcare and agriculture in India, offering innovative solutions to improve access to medical care and enhance farming practices.
Innovation in Healthcare and Agriculture:
In the healthcare sector, the World Economic Forum’s Medicine from the Sky initiative has been instrumental in reshaping healthcare supply chains. This initiative, which is a partnership between the World Economic Forum, the Government of Telangana, Apollo Hospitals, and the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, focuses on delivering medical supplies to remote areas of India effectively harnessing the aerial capabilities of the drones. The project has conducted over 300 drone-enabled vaccine delivery trials in Telangana. It has also extended its reach to Arunachal Pradesh, as a result covering a distance of more than 15,000 km to supply more than 8,000 medical products to 200 patients. The project during its implementation period has demonstrated numerous benefits including reduced transport time and expenses for patients, thereby improving healthcare delivery in remote areas.
The capability of drones to contribute to public health and safety was further highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Gujarat, an entity by the name ‘Dronelab’ partnered with the Gujarat Police Department, wherein it used the cloud-connected FlytBase solution for drone-based centralized monitoring and surveillance. The drones provided live video feeds making it possible for the police to respond to emergencies. It also enabled them to identify public gatherings. Drones were also used for medical supply delivery and aerial disinfection in quarantine areas. To ensure that privacy and security concerns were taken care of, Dronelab implemented standard operating procedures focusing on low-definition footage, content deletion, and community engagement.
In another notable health-related initiative, it was reported that Skye Air Mobility, a drone delivery tech firm initiated a three-day beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) trial in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh to connect primary health centers and area hospitals through drone deliveries, focusing on vaccines and medicines within a specified temperature range.
In the field of agriculture, drones are transforming farming practices in India. IIIT-Naya Raipur has developed a drone-based crop health forecasting solution, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. This solution uses drones to capture images of crops, enabling real-time alerts to farmers regarding the presence of insects and diseases. It also provides recommendations for pesticide usage, contributing to more efficient and timely crop management. Drones are capable of reshaping traditional farming practices by offering precision spraying, crop monitoring, and soil health assessment. This promotes enhanced crop productivity and sustainability, particularly in large and challenging agricultural landscapes.
Conclusion:
The integration of drones in healthcare and agriculture reflects a fundamental change in utilizing technology to address critical challenges and enhance equity. These initiatives demonstrate the transformative potential of drones in improving healthcare delivery and agricultural practices. As innovative projects continue to shape drone applications in India, the country is poised to witness significant advancements in healthcare, agriculture, and other social sectors through the integration of drone technology.