Drones in Singapore, from photographers to waiters
Singapore Post announced on Thursday (8 October) it had delivered a parcel via drone to Pulau Ubin, one of the country’s offshore islands, and received authentication, a world first for postal services.
This move comes at a time when nations across the world are considering tougher legislation for drones.
Even in Singapore, under legislation passed earlier this year, drones are prohibited from carrying dangerous materials, and operators will need permits to fly unmanned aircraft weighing more than 7kg, fly or take photos of protected areas, and fly or operate unmanned aircraft within 5km of aerodomes.
A 27-year-old man who flew his drone over a gazetted Special Event Area on National was given a stern warning by the police, a statement from the Singapore Police Force said on Thursday. There were also two instances when drones flown by hobbyists landed on MRT tracks, former Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew revealed in Parliament in August.
Once mostly seen only in militaries, civilian drones have now become widely available and affordable. A check on online shopping site Qoo10 shows models for sale from about $50.
Here are some of the ways drones have been used in Singapore.
1) To capture video and pictures from higher altitudes
One of the more commonly seen uses of drones in Singapore these days involves photography and videography. Before drones became affordable, one would have needed to charter a helicopter to get such views.
These days, with the rising popularity of sports/action cameras like the GoPro, enthusiasts and professionals alike are able to take to the skies for a bird’s eye view. Even some journalists are using them for their work.
Drones can even go where a helicopter normally won’t, such as through fireworks.
2) To deliver drinks to workers at construction sites
In 2014, the Singapore Kindness Movement and Coca-Cola released a video of drones delivering cans of Coke to construction workers, together with hand-written notes from Singaporeans thanking them for their efforts and contributions.
The video was part of a campaign which aimed to show appreciation from the local population for the migrant workers who helped build the country’s infrastructure. In other countries, some use drones to deliver all sorts of foods from pizza to sushi to burritos.
3) To serve man (food)
Earlier in 2015, Timbre @ The Substation unveiled drone waiters to carry plates of food from its kitchen. While not entirely replacing human staff, the drones were part of experiment of a system maker Infinitum Robotics intended to roll out at the end of the year.
The fully-autonomous drones are able to avoid stationary objects and detect the movements of other drones nearby. They are meant to help with Singapore’s labour crunch in the service sector, allowing human waiters to remain near the customers instead of having to travel distances to collect food from the kitchen.
In addition, drone users from around the world have discovered a myriad of ways to use their mechanical friends, including using a drone to hook a fish, converting them into hover bikes, protecting endangered species, and even deliver wedding rings for a proposal.
