When I read the news published on 02/05 by G1 “Anac sets rules for the use of drones and requires authorization for larger equipment”, which informs that the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) approved a regulation for the use of drones, it came to me the memory of when I was at home and came across one in my window. Children on the sidewalk, 10 floors below, were having fun with their new toy… I then began to reflect on the advances that regulation and drones themselves bring to our society, vis-à-vis their harm.
It is increasingly common to see one hovering in the sky, most for recreational use or for photo and filming of events, mainly parties and weddings. In a quick search on the internet, it is possible to find an advertisement for the sale of drones for R$100 on Aliexpress, which enables rapid growth for these functions. Professionals, on the other hand, can cost much more than R$10, reach more than 100km/h and have autonomy of more than 20 minutes. In 2015, there was already a training course in the United States to fly one and a huge variety of models available for purchases in electronics store shelves.
The regulation mainly states that: non-recreational drone users will need to be of legal age; respect a minimum distance of 30m from people, unless they have authorization for smaller distances and with the exception of public safety bodies; and will need clearance for flights above 400 feet (approximately 120m) with equipment weighing less than 25kg and to fly equipment weighing more than 25kg; Drones weighing less than 250g do not need to be registered with Anac. Until then, requests for use, mostly for public security agencies, were analyzed on a case-by-case basis. In this way, the rule is clear for those who intend to acquire and use one.
Many may classify this regulation as a bureaucratization of the use of drones, but with the “boom” of this technology, I understand that its control is essential. However, even with clear rules, how can you guarantee that they will actually be respected? How to control photography or filming by unauthorized persons? How to ensure that they are used mainly for public safety and increased productivity of companies without bringing risks to society?
This “new” technology, which on the one hand is frightening, has many benefits for society in general and also in the industrial and business environment. Among its applications, we can mention:
- Merchandise deliveries – Amazon made its 1st delivery via drone in December 2016 in England (http://g1.globo.com/tecnologia/noticia/amazon-faz-1-entrega-de-produtos-usando-drone-voo-demorou-13-minutos.ghtml)-, drugs and supplies over long distances or at high altitudes
- Goods control and inventory management – Walmart had this initiative in the middle of last year (https://ilos.com.br/web/walmart-testa-drones-na-gestao-da-armazenagem/) -
- Rescuing people, animals and objects or searching for missing people in places of difficult access and/or long distances such as the sea, caves and hills
- Investigations and mapping of risk areas or hard-to-reach places such as holes
- Photo and filming of events or for public safety
- equipment inspection
- Propaganda
- Topographical analyzes
- Crops, for spraying pesticides and plant pollination, or livestock and raising other animals, for feed release
- Archaeological discoveries
When I say that they scare me, I mean not only the invasion of people's privacy, but also the increase in their use for military purposes, to set off bombs and carry out espionage, which protect soldiers but threaten the lives of thousands of people in a much easier way. ; accidents that can be caused by people not qualified to use them and even the risk they can pose to birds and the environment in general. The Netflix series “Black Mirror”, famous for questioning the harms of technological advances, released at the end of the 3rd season the episode “Hated in Nation”, in which it brings a possible repercussion to humans from the use of pollinating drone bees.
I conclude that technology has more to add. Undoubtedly, technological advances always come with the main objective of making life easier for individuals and companies, they are a reality and there is no turning back. The benefits they bring us are countless, they are fundamental for the evolution of society, safety and health, and for increasing the productivity of companies. Therefore, we need to take advantage of them, but with regulation, so that carelessness in their use does not turn them into villains.
References:
https://multicopter.com.br/drone.asp
http://www.hardware.com.br/artigos/futuro-dos-drones-uma-uniao-entre-produtividade-medo/
Paula Arantes
https://ilos.com.brProduction Engineer from UFRJ and Master in Business Administration from COPPEAD/UFRJ. She has been working in the sector for 10 years, with experience in cost reduction projects, mainly in Transport Planning and Management, Implementation of new Processes / Systems and Review of the Logistics Network. She specializes in the Oil and Gas market, but operates in several sectors such as Pharmaceuticals, Hygiene and Cleaning, Beauty, Tobacco, Agribusiness and Steel. Clients for which she has already carried out projects: BR Distribuidora, Petrobras, Ipiranga, AMPM, Transpetro, Souza Cruz, HalexIstar, Atvos, Bettanin, Tricon, Manetoni, Natura, IBP, Logum. Types of projects already carried out: Logistics Master Plan, Transport Planning and Management, Implementation of New Systems/Processes, Inventory Management, Logistics Network Redesign, Preparation and Conduct of RFI/RFQ, Cost of Serving, Sales Forecast, Planning Strategic.
