How Drones Can Be Good or Bad For Our Society

Drones: how drones can be good or bad for our society

 

 

Application, part 1: so many different ways to use drones

 

            The first thing when people hear the word "drones", they will usually connect the word with military use because most news out there, are about whether or not military drones are for the good of the world.  I say, "Drones are not only for military use, but can be used in many different ways, ways that can better our world."  Drones can be applied in agricultural, commerce, and protection of wild life. A continent, who could greatly benefit from such a development in drones, would be Africa. Many regions in Africa do not have accessible roads year round and as a result some villages cannot get access to simple goods such as medicine.

            Efficiency in Africa could greatly increase with the use of drones.  The problem Africans face is not necessarily the growing of the product, but the transportation of their goods produced to a market, as referred in the article "The African Farmer: Problems Facing Agriculture." Also the use of drones for surveillance over the crops would make the job of a farmer, a lot easier because the farmer could use a small drone to check on his or her large plantation of crops.  Not only can farmers check on their crops, but farmers can see if their irrigation systems are working, how their plants are growing, even see if any of the plants are sick by using infrared technology (Estes,Gizmodo).  Also a man who creates drones for this particular use, Brandon basso, says “It is not environmentally great or financially great to spray pesticides on all of the crops",(Sharma, Rakesh).  He thinks drones could be used to spray pesticides on specific area of farmers' crops.  I would agree with basso's idea because that means less money spent on protecting crops and less chemicals we put in our body.

            The most extensive use of drones in Africa would be in commerce, because some villages in Africa do not have accessible roads year round. As a result, some cannot get access to simple goods such as food, clothing, or medicine.  Relatively new startups such as the Matternet, specialize in creating drones for medicine transportation to remote areas (Schwartz, Ariel). Such use of drones in Africa would save time on the purchaser’s side, as well as the sellers side.  The most absolute positive outcome of transportation of medicine, with drones, is the fact that it would help to reduce fatalities.  One billion people in rural areas live without access to all-season roads; Africa, who has a weak road infrastructure, would simply skip right to the use of drones for carrying their goods.  A drone highway system, or whatever you want to call it, would ultimately help Africa catch up to other continents, such as Europe whose road infrastructure dates back to roman times. Africa would not only be able to handle their ever growing population, but also attract Africans to stay in Africa because they can live there without the worrying of a sustainable life.

            There are many endangered species in Africa, like the African elephant and rhino.  The main problem Africa faces are poachers.  In the 1980's, demand for ivory rose and as a result, in 1977 the 1.3 million elephants lived in Africa dwindled to only 600,000 by 1997 (The poaching problem).  Drones can greatly help the African park rangers because not only can drones give an aerial view, but they can help to combat poaching in the dark with the use of inferred technology. An article talks about how highly sophisticated poachers are, with their use of tranquilizers and night vision goggles (Sesana, Laura).   Ol Pejeta reserve in Kenya is a good example of a national park who uses drones (sesana,Laura). There are only 190 park rangers covering 90,000 acres in OI Pejeta reserve (sesana, Laura). The only way to protect the endangered species in Africa is to have the upper hand against the poachers and the use of surveillance drones will help to do so. 

             Drones can be applied in agricultural, commerce, and protection of wild life.  Many places around the world can benefit from the use of drones, but Africa is just one place I chose to focus on. Imagine a world where there was a billion less people who were secluded from inefficiency and production. I would think our world would only be a better place to live for everyone…don't you?

                                                               

                                                                                                        (The poaching problem)

Next: why drones are ultimately good for this world

 

Bibliography

 

"The African Farmer: Problems Facing Agriculture." AFRICAW: Africa and the World. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.

 

Sharma, Rakesh. "Growing The Use Of Drones In Agriculture." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.

 

Estes, Adam C. "Some Good Things Drones Can (Actually) Do." Gizmodo. N.p., 4 Dec. 2013. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.

 

Schwartz, Ariel. "The Matternet: A Flying Autonomous Delivery System For The Developing World | Co.Exist | Ideas + Impact." Co.Exist. N.p., 30 Aug. 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.

 

"THE POACHING PROBLEM." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.

 

Sesana, Laura. "Using Drones to Protect African Wildlife from Poachers." Washington Times Communities. N.p., 7 Aug. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.