Much has been written about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) but the darling of technology suitors inspires more bytes than any other emerging platform technology today. The sheer versatility, scope of utility and cost-effectiveness has made several geospatial companies launch their versions of the miniature copters in quick succession targeting different applications. The innovations this week are from Topcon, Javad and the surprise entree from Google.
Project Wing of Google has been in development for the past two years and though Google claims it intends to use these civilian self-flying vehicles for disaster and emergency response like delivering defibrillators to heart attack victims, the project very much reminds us of the work underway at Amazon.
A closer inspection of Project Wing however gives clues to the loftier goals of Google. Considering Google’s keen interest in maps and mapping, it might come as no surprise if the sturdy tail-sitting aircraft design of Project Wing goes beyond delivering packages to facilitate cost-effective, high resolution aerial imagery and mapping of every nook and cranny of the world, regulations permitting!
