Okay, so lets get this out this way. Drones.

It can be scary word with a heavily negative

connotation due to the U.S. militarys use of drones in the fight against terrorists. In fact, one
thing that well mention later in this article is the need for drones to be re-branded with its
proper term, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), if its to be used in emergency response with
positive connotation with public.

Where Did the Term Drone Come From?
From my research, the actual origin of the word drone is still in question. It is thought that
unmanned aerial vehicles were dubbed drones back in the 1930s in reference to the Old
English term, which described a male honeybee whose only purpose was to mate with the
queen bee:
In 1935, U.S. Adm. William H. Standley saw a British demonstration of the Royal Navys new
remote-control aircraft for target practice, the DH 82B Queen Bee. Back stateside, Standley
charged Commander Delmer Fahrney with developing something similar for the Navy.
Fahrney adopted the name drone to refer to these aircraft in homage to the Queen Bee, Mr.
Zaloga wrote. The term fit, as a drone could only function when controlled by an operator on
the ground or in a mother plane. Wall Street Journal
Eventually, the term drone shifted in reference from piloted aircraft to pilot-less, unmanned,
aircraft. After the September 11
th
attacks in the New York, use of the word drone picked up
speed and house-hold familiarity due to the use of drone strikes against terror suspects.

Drones Have Been and Are Being Used in More Ways Than You Might Think
The military market has dominated the UAV industry due to significantly fewer government
constraints. Reasons the commercial market has been slow to capitalize UAV applications
(particularly in the U.S.) can be linked to strict airspace restrictions, under-developed
technology, and a lack of funding and support. (According to a recentCNN article, the FAA just
recently approved permits for the first commercial use of drones in America.)
Despite these barriers to market growth, UAVS are currently being used in more ways than
one may have imagined or known about:
Land Management Surveying land for the purpose of tracking, monitoring, and mapping. This
includes forest fire tracking, wildlife herding, and crop monitoring and dusting. Example: NOAA
uses them to track wildlife in the Artic and the USGS uses them for mapping and environmental
studies.
Earth Science Gathering and interpreting data for scientific research. This includes habitat
monitoring, weather tracking, and remote aerial surveying. Example: NASA uses them to monitor
hurricanes
Commercial Involves the use of UAVs by companies for private ventures, such as pipeline
monitoring or wireless communications.
Aside from military missions, UAVS are used by homeland security in a civilian capacity to
help monitor borders and assist with law enforcement.

The Emergence of UAVs in Disaster Relief and Emergency Response
Another sector where UAVs are beginning to make their mark is in disaster relief and
emergency response. The benefit of using UAVs is readily apparent as they have the capacity
to enter environments that are unreachable or potentially hazardous to first responders.
Additionally, there are being deployed to locate survivors and those in distress, and
communicate their whereabouts responders on the ground or those coordinating emergency
response. This has been done already in several scenarios:
Matternet, a U.S. based company, has tested the use of UAVs to deliver aid, such as medicine and
other supplies, in the Dominican Republic and Haiti with additional testing to launch in Lesotho, a
country located in southern Africa. Read more about it here.
A team at the University of Melbourne in Australia is testing the use of UAVs for brushfire
surveillance and to help predict the impact of fires on areas with dry grass. Read more about it here.
A German non-profit has developed a UAV that carries defibrillators to patients experiencing heart
attacks, which can potentially reach them faster than a paramedic. Theyve even been optimized for
use in remote areas. Read more about it here and view the video at the top of the post.
Physical Sciences, a Boston-based company, has developed a UAV, called the InstantEye, which can
bring cell phones to someone is who trapped so they can communicate with first responders.
InstateEye can also carry thermal cameras to help look for someone trapped in rubble or dimly-lit
areas, like a forest at night. Read more about it here.
The Royal Canadian Police recently used a UAV with an infrared camera to pick up on a mans heat
signature after his vehicle rolled off the side of the road and he was knocked unconscious. With it
being dark and near-freezing temperatures, emergency workers equipped with night goggles and a
helicopter were previously unable to locate him.
UAVs can prove to be more useful than helicopters in certain response scenarios, specifically
when looking for survivors, as helicopters can drown out the sound of those screaming for
help. UAVs make relatively little sound and can weigh as little as three pounds, making them
easy to carry and deploy on the ground. Prices for commercial UAVs can range from $15,000
to $50,000, which is just a fraction of what a helicopter costs. (There are also UAV models that
are going for the several hundred dollar range as well.)
Desiree Matel-Anderson, Chief Innovation Advisor at FEMA, envisions endless uses for UAVs
in emergency response. One way she envisions utilizing multiple UAVs to provide a temporary
wireless network to areas that have lost connectivity. (Click here to see my previous article on
Googles Loon project and its potential in emergency response.)
Potential for the future use of UAVs continues to develop. UAVs have already been used to
help emergency response crews monitor oil spills. New tools are being developed to allow
UAVs to hear gunshots, measure radiation and detect chemical levels. They can also be used
to fly over disaster-impacted areas, help determine which buildings and roads have been
impacted, helping emergency responders prioritize which area to assist first and help
emergency vehicles determine which transportation routes to use, helping them avoid
roadways that are blocked with debris.

Looking Forward: Whats Next for UAVs
A major obstacle for the commercial UAV industry to overcome is public perception. Increased
public awareness of the various civilian UAV use will be beneficial to changing public
perception, but the trust factor in knowing that these devices are being used for spying is
paramount. Eric Holdeman of Emergency Magazine suggested that UAVs should be used by local
fire departments or volunteer groups to avoid the assumption that they are being used for
spying purposes. I would add emergency management humanitarian agencies to the list of
potential users of UAVs. Going forward, Holdeman recommends that those utilizing UAVs for
emergency response develop policies outlining when and how the information gathered will be
stored, who will have access to them and how they will be safely destroyed.
In my opinion, the use of UAVs in emergency response presents a situation where name
recognition of those flying the vehicles will also be critical. If device is flying within viewing
distance a person on the ground, an organization or agencys logo or name that is clearly
visible on the device may ease the concerns that it being used for spying purposes. In order for
the use of logo and name recognition to work, the organization behind the name must have a
strong reputation for trustworthiness and transparency, which will help governments and
communities to believe that the devices are used only for its intended purposes.
Another barrier to increased UAV use in U.S.-based disaster response is regulation.According
to CNN, the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma had tested using UAVs and considered
using them immediately after the Moore tornado, but was unable to due to their being a no-fly
zone. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has until 2015 to develop rules for flying
UAVs in U.S. airspace. This includes determining safety regulations, how pilots ought to be
trained, how to certify drone aircraft, and the process for notifying air-traffic controllers. Within
the year, the Agency will be setting up 6 test sites around the country to collect more
information about to best regulate UAV technology.
Once FAA regulations are established, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems
International (AUVSI), a non-profit association for UAV companies, anticipates the creation of
70,000 jobs and an economic impact of $13.6 billion within three years. In the meantime, any
civilian or military entity that wants to fly UAVs above 400 feet must get a special waver from
the agency, though there is an exception for emergencies, which would expedite the process.

Sources:
Wesley DeBusk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems for Disaster Relief: Tornado Alley
IT News Drones to Forecast Future Brushfires
CNN Drones: The Future of the Disaster Response
Wired Drone Could Deliver Defibrillators to Heart Attack Victims
TechCrunch Hex Airbot Shatters Crowdfunding Goal for Its Cheap, 3D Printed Drones
Wall Street Journal How the Word Drone Flew from Bees to Planes
Emergency Management Magazine Drones vs. UAV