Drones

Drones are starting to appear on the horizon.
They are being used for everyday practical tasks.

The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) is using them to provide aerial photography and video of road and rail infrastructure project work sites.

DPTI hires the drones which are technically called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPASs).
The drones are basically a mini helicopter (usually with 4 sets of blades for extra stability) with an on-board camera/video with GPS. A ground based operator controls the drone by a wireless control pad.

The Police recently acquired 2 drones, primarily for surveillance work. They can assist Police during high-risk events eg. during a siege or terrorist attack. With an on-board camera/video they can collect evidence of the situation. Other intended use is searching for drugs and assessing damage after a fire or explosion. After training and commissioning, the Police drones will be operational later this year.


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