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Government agencies testing 25 uses of Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Feb 05, 2016 06:00 am

It's a bird.

It's a plane.

It's a drone?

As government agencies look into the various uses of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones, they may soon be a regular feature in Singapore.

As you look up to the skies, you might just spot the DragonFly dispensing larvicide on a rooftop or the Eagle circling a construction site to inspect it.

At sea, you might spot the Water Spider landing on an oil spill so that the authorities can get a closer look from far.

Drones, which will be flown over water by members of the Aerial Response Team, are equipped with sensors that can pick up movements on the ground.

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Government agencies demonstrated these uses of UAS at a media conference by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) yesterday.

The agencies are looking into more than 25 potential uses of UAS.

Mr Pang Kin Keong, Permanent Secretary for MOT and chairman of the UAS Committee, said: "We need a UAS policy framework that is balanced, practical and sustainable given the many potential applications and uses of drones and their increasing availability and affordability."

EFFICIENCY

"We want to try to facilitate and encourage the use of drones in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, both at the public and private sectors," he said.

The demonstrations were conducted by the National Environment Agency (NEA), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the various agencies involved in the inspection and monitoring of construction sites.

The UAS Committee has also initiated an inter-agency effort to promote efficient use of resources and manpower by public agencies for construction site inspections.

With the use of UAS, the risk and time taken for workers going up high places for inspections can be minimised.

Also, since inspection of construction sites involve seven public agencies including the Building and Construction Authority and NEA, a common platform called GeoSpace that allows agencies to share data within government intra-net was launched.

To facilitate the public agencies' procurement of UAS services from commercial vendors, MOT will be calling a tender to invite service providers to bid for a master contract for UAS services at the end of this month.

We want to try to facilitate and encourage the use of drones in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, both at the public and private sectors.

— Mr pang kin keong, permanent secretary for the ministry of transport and chairman of the unmanned aircraft systems committee

Eagle

Uses: Inspection and monitoring of construction sites including ensuring that barricades are erected for safety, struts (earth retaining and stabilising structures) are properly placed and sewers, drains and water mains are safeguarded. The Eagle is a collaboration between Aetos Holdings and Germany’s Multirotor Service Drone.

Weight: 6kg
Rotors: 8
Max height: 61m
Stable in winds of up to 50 kmh

Water Spider

Uses: Aerial surveillance, monitoring oil spills and support for search and rescue.
The Water Spider is a collaboration between MPA and Hope Technik.

Weight: 5kg
Rotors: 4
Endurance: 3 hours (tethered)
Max height: 60m

Drone launches from patrol boat

DragonFly

Uses: Inspection of high places for mosquito breeding spots and dispensing of larvicide to control mosquito breeding. It is manufactured by Garuda Robotics.