With the world population set to increase by another 2 billion people by 2050, there’s never been a greater need for increased food production. As of last year, it was estimated that less than 5% of farmland is currently being used for farming. This is only expected to get worse as more and more people clamor for access to high-quality food. In order to meet this demand, and also reduce the huge input needed for traditional farming, several companies have begun looking into alternate ways of providing fresh produce to consumers. In this article we’ll be taking a look at how you can do your bit to save the world through the use of delivery drones.
A Brief History of Delivery Drones
There are quite a few reasons why the use of drone delivery is rising in popularity. In fact, it’s only been in recent years that we’ve even seen the first tentative steps towards implementing this system. That said, it actually goes back a lot further than that. In fact, the very first known use of a drone to deliver goods can be traced back to 1987.
At the time, the concept of unmanned aircraft as a means of distribution wasn’t a new one. Over the years, many companies had already tried using drones for things like aerial photography and package delivery. However, it was during the 1980s that drones really began to take off. This is largely due to the fact that new regulations regarding commercial drone use were put in place. As a result of this, businesses began to see more and more benefits from using drones for distribution.
Why Is It Important to Use Delivery Drones?
There are several good reasons for using drones for distribution. – Saves Time and Effort: Since no human piloting is required, drones are able to complete deliveries at a much more rapid rate than traditional methods. This means that it’s possible to complete a delivery route much more frequently. – More Accurate Delivery: As we’ve already discussed, drones are able to fly at a greater altitude than traditional aircraft.
Combined with the ability to navigate with GPS, this means that they can achieve a far higher level of accuracy when it comes to delivering goods. – Flexibility: Another benefit that comes with the use of drones is their flexibility. Unlike other distribution methods such as UAVs (drone-assisted delivery), they’re able to work at all times of the day. This ensures that they’re able to provide a reliable service to any business that is looking to expand their reach.
How Does a Delivery Drone Work?
Delivery drones are basically unmanned aircraft that are used for transporting goods from point A to point B. The goods themselves will be placed inside a container that can be attached to the drone. From there, it’s simply a matter of piloting the drone to its destination and then picking up the goods inside the container.
In order to make sure that the drone is able to safely navigate to its destination, its location will be tracked using GPS. At the same time, its altimeter will be used to gauge its height above the ground. This allows the drone to navigate to a predetermined point that’s a few feet above the ground. At this point, the drone will gently land. It’s then simply a matter of walking around a few feet and retrieving the goods.
Popular Types of Delivery Drones
- Cargo Drones: This is probably the most common type of delivery drone. It’s designed to carry goods, usually within a container.
- Professional Use Drones: This is the type of drone that’s most commonly used for commercial purposes. It’s often used for aerial photography.
- Personal Use Drones: This is the type of drone that’s most commonly used for personal purposes. It’s often used for filming and recreational activities such as recreational flying.
Ways You Can Use a Delivery Drone for Good
Given their potential for drastically improving food distribution, you might be wondering why delivery drones aren’t being used for good. The fact is that there are a number of ways in which you can use drone delivery for good.
- Food Collection: In many countries, it’s estimated that over 2 million people don’t have access to clean water. That’s a huge concern when it comes to managing population growth.
- Distribution of Medical Supplies: In some parts of the world, medical supplies are in short supply. That’s particularly true in African countries, where the population is predicted to rise by a staggering 50% by the year 2050.
- Disaster Response: This one’s a bit obvious, but if there’s a natural disaster occurring in a distant part of the world, it’s likely that aid would be severely delayed as a result of distance.
- Food Distribution: With global food production expected to rise by less than 1% by 2050, the need for new methods of distribution will become ever more pressing.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that the use of drones has the potential to significantly improve our world. By using them for the purpose of delivering food, you’re helping to reduce the strain on existing infrastructure. That’s a good thing, given that it’s estimated that we’ll be facing a 9.1 billion population by the year 2050. That said, it’s important to remember that while they’re useful for a number of good causes, they’re not completely flawless. That’s why you should use them to help reduce hunger in developing countries.
