The Hokkaido prefectural government has begun a project to show drone flying in winter because small drones are thought to be vulnerable in cold weather.
The prefectural government hopes to promote drone use through this project, accumulate guidelines, and develop competence in drone operation safely in freezing and snowy weather.
A demonstration was held on February 8 under the pretence that a man had been caught in an avalanche. At the Asahidake spa resort area in the Hokkaido town of Higashikawa, the temperature that day was minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit, and it was snowing.
The battery’s quick depletion and the propellers’ rapid freezing caused challenges in the extremely cold temperatures.
Participants made sure there were no other people nearby and that their drones’ cameras and propellers weren’t covered in snow or dirt before the test flights. The safe flight procedures were then checked once more.
A drone conducted a search for the individual in the scenario during the demonstration from a height of roughly 50 metres. The drone, which had both a conventional camera and a thermal camera, was able to locate the individual by sensing his body heat.
In the event of an actual accident, members of the Hokkaido prefectural police’s mountain rescue unit and others would get the location of the victim from the drone and begin the search and rescue effort.
Drones can conduct searches at lower altitudes than helicopters and require less time to prepare for flight, allowing for the early identification of victims.
The Hokkaido prefectural government wants to deploy drones for logistics and infrastructure development as drone flight regulations continue to be deregulated. Under the idea that drones may be used to examine avalanche fences and dams as well as distribute relief supplies when highways and other access lines are shut off, the prefectural government announced that they would hold drone demonstrations in the towns of Kamishihoro and Tobetsu.
Hiroshi Nakagawa of NTT Communications Corp., a participant in the initiative, said, “We would like to continue demonstrations so that drones will be deployed in many industries during winter.”
To reach our editorial team on your feedback, story ideas and pitches, contact us here.
