IMBO Magazine Issue 33: One Love | Page 84

The technical term for this innovation is Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Officially, the equipment can be used for a number of tasks, including taking video and pictures, delivering items and investigating areas of interest. These magnificent tools play roles that manned flights normally fail to accomplish due to risk factors and other logistical difficulties. The added utility of drones ranges from search and rescue, weather analysis all the way to intelligence gathering to name a few. One thing making them so desirable is the potential for an improved alternative for service delivery. While the postman is slow delivering your packages and mail, a UAV will do so with more efficiency than a man or woman who puts their foot to pavement. A drone doesn’t suffer from fatigue and always ends up dropping off your goods faster than expected. The first commercial drones were launched by Germany in 2013 and are used to deliver urgently needed goods such as medication to faraway places. They are used to carry small parcels boxes, dropping them off with accuracy and efficiency. What’s more, this remarkable vehicle can be controlled through a smartphone app. IMBO/ ISSUE 32/ '14 84