i-Drone

In Context

• Recently, the ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach in North East (i-Drone) was launched in Manipur.

About the Project

• Purpose:
  • The i-Drone was designed to overcome vaccine delivery challenges in hard-to-reach terrains of India, by deploying unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to these areas. 
  • It was used to transport Covid-19 vaccines travelling an aerial distance of 15 km in less than 15 minutes in Manipur.
• Currently, the drone-based delivery project has been granted permission for implementation in Manipur, Nagaland, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

Significance 

• Drones can be used in delivering important life-saving medicines and

collecting blood samples in critical situations and in tough geographical areas.

• Over the last decade, drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are being increasingly used for
  • law and order, 
  • courier services, 
  • surveillance and
  • attack in the military domain. 
• Modern drones have been used militarily since the 1990s, including by the US during the Gulf War.
• In India, the most commonly known drones are:
  • Quad- and hexacopters used for civil and commercial purposes, 
  • Heron drones used for military surveillance. 
  • Different UAVs operate under various technologies ranging from the remote control by a human operator to using GPS and radio frequencies, and autopilot assistance.

Source: PIB