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Droneports and cargo drone routes to save lives in Africa
- theptip 11y agoThis is a fantastic example of less-developed countries leapfrogging large parts of the 'tech tree'. Why build roads when you can just airlift with drones? Similar example: why build a buried-copper telephone/internet network when you can just build cell towers? Of course, in this case roads will still be desirable, but we don't need to wait for their existence to start delivering high-value goods to isolated communities.
- Sanddancer 11y agoThis isn't so much leapfrogging roads as it is improving on bush planes. There are lots of light aircraft can take off and land in insanely short distances, some as low as ten feet [1]. You can get most anything anywhere, even with almost no facilities. The big thing that these drones offer is cost. Being able to get medication to a small community for less money means aid organizations can stretch dollars farther. At the moment, a bush flight is several hundred dollars an hour. If these drones can offer service at even $100, it will go a long way to improving quality of life. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNwl8ntUhL0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNwl8ntUhL0