City drones and smart cities

Now there are all available technologies to use quadrocopters to improve life in the city. As part of an online urban design course using video games, board games, and movies, I made a small selection of how to use drones effectively (comparable in size to the Star Wars DRK-1 ) in an urban setting.

Under the cut description of 8 ways to make the city "smarter" with the use of flying robots, a lot of illustrations and examples.

First of all, we will limit the concept of “smart” city as a city that makes the life of residents more comfortable and safe (including environmentally safe), and also saves the time of citizens. By urban drones, they will mean robots-quadcopters and similar to them unmanned flying robots.

Citizens can launch a quadrocopter to inspect the way ahead, traffic jams and obstacles.


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Example: Phil Dunphy ( Modern Family series, iSpy series) runs a quadrocopter to inspect the area behind the wall, as well as to show real estate objects to customers.


Video broadcast in busy places and at city events, including reports from various events, sports games or concerts.



Example: at the Olympic Games in Sochi , the performances of skiers and snowboarders were broadcast .


Drones will be able to quickly arrive at the scene to illuminate the situation. They can be used when traffic cameras and outdoor video cameras are no longer as effective.



Example: The Draganflyer X8 quadcopter provides real-time video monitoring for crime scene and evidence collection, investigation of traffic accidents, control of explosives, and disaster prevention.


Delivery by air due to the movement of drones through the air saves time, reduces traffic on the roads and air pollution.



Example: Amazon announced Prime Air , a package delivery service by air, directly into the hands of customers in less than half an hour.


City residents can access high-speed Internet via flying Wi-Fi hotspots.



Example: DARPA launches a program called Mobile Hotspot, according to which outdated military drones will distribute the Internet. The use of drones as Wi-Fi points was also expressed by the company Facebook.


Drones can act as a fire service, freely flying into burning buildings to find people and provide them with first aid kits and further instructions.



Example: If you draw an analogy with the movie “Spiderman” (2002) , then drones will be able to combine the abilities of Spider-Man to get into hard-to-reach places and the technical characteristics of the Green Goblin's glider and his flying guns.


Drones can explore rooftops and skyscrapers, thus finding people stuck on rooftops during floods and other incidents. So drones can fly up and provide the means of communication, as well as the necessary food and medicine. In addition, the usual delivery is also greatly simplified for people living in high-rise buildings, and companies located on the top floors of high buildings.



Example: Francesco's Pizzeria Italian Pizzeria delivered an order in 10 minutes to the roof of a skyscraper in Mumbai. Another example is Coca-Cola delivered drone drinks to builders of skyscrapers in Singapore.


Drones can be equipped with loudspeakers, signal lights and sirens to help rescuers and law enforcement officers.



Example: The British police announced that they would use Aeryon Skyranger drones in West Sussex.

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PS Despite the fact that all 8 ways are technically feasible now, while the use of drones faces many problems (for example, legal).
PPS Especially for Russian-speaking students of the course , as well as for fans of games in the genre “Get out of the room” and city-planning simulators, the graphic online quest “Planet Escape: from the settlement to the spaceport” will be held (details: vk.com/coinop ).