Using a technology that includes sensors dedicated to the remote monitoring of body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rates of people, Canadian Draganfly has even added an intelligent computer vision system to devices, making them capable of identifying sneezes in groups or crowds. The company was selected as the exclusive global systems integrator for the Vital Intelligence project, a platform launched by the University of South Australia and the Australian Department of Defense. “We thought that this equipment would be used to facilitate relief missions in remote places. Now, it is surprising to see the possibility of using our research immediately to help preserve life during the greatest public health catastrophe witnessed in the world in the last 100 years, ”said Dr. Javaan Chahl, professor of defense science and technology at the institution education. Pandemic Drones Early detection and immediate isolation of people affected by infectious diseases are essential measures to prevent any pandemic – and this is no different with the coronavirus. One of the main problems faced worldwide is the insufficient number of test kits for all suspected cases, and these drones come to assist in the containment of cases. Classified as pandemic drones, the machines will be used to detect people with symptoms such as fever and compromised respiratory conditions. At 60 meters away, for example, even cases of low fever can be identified. There is no information about the effectiveness of the results or false positive alerts – which should certainly be confirmed by specialized means. Still, it is an impressive project. “Respiratory monitoring will be vital not only for detecting cases, but also for collecting data that helps to understand the evolution of the scenario. As we implement new features, drones and autonomous technologies will be indispensable tools for public security, ”says Andy Card, director of Draganfly, former secretary of transportation and former chief of staff at the White House. In Spain, similar projects have also been put in place to issue quarantine-related alerts. Considering how much evolution has occurred in the last few months, we can expect even more sophisticated technologies to combat the coronavirus.
