Drones have been getting a bad rap in the news, lately, with constant reports of drone strikes on innocent people in Middle-East countries. But it’s easy to forget that drones aren’t all about wars and dropping bombs – by very definition they are just pilotless aircraft. And to bring some good reputation back to the name, German company Definetz in conjunction with HeightTech have developed a drone that will deliver a defibrillator
Definetz, a non-profit company, wants to help save lives by combining GPS-enabled smartphones, with the Definetz app, and its defibrillator-carrying drones, called Defikopters. With a range of 10 kilometres and a top speed of 70km/h, the drones could deliver a defibrillator to emergency sites in record time. A practical example would be as depicted above: you’re enjoying a round of golf, and at the 13th hole a bit of bad luck strikes. The green-keeper would have a fit if an ambulance drove across his manicured lawns, but a defibridrone could be far more effective.
It’s not a cheap solution, though. The drones would cost $26 000 (around R265 000). Plus, the system relies on a heart attack victim being near somebody who has the app installed. Plus, in Germany – where the drones have been developed – law requires all drones to be manned. That’s sure to put a spanner in the works.
