NASA develops technology to help drones land safely during emergency

NASA scientists are developing a technology to help drones land safely during emergencies. The announcement regarding the new technology was made by NASA on 25 May 2017.

After eight test flights, the technology has successfully spotted safer landing zones like swamps or drainage ditches to crash instead of on top of people’s cars.

Highlights of the technology
• This crash-landing software for drones was developed by Patricia Glaab, an aerospace technologist at NASA Langley Research Centre, and her fellow NASA colleague and husband Lou Glaab.
• The software links on-board drone components like batteries and motors to monitor their health.
• The technology help them identify when something on the drone goes wrong, and puts the aerial vehicles in a crash-landing mode.
• When triggered, the software checks a pre-installed database of nearby safe zones and identifies one for safe landing.
• The software also incorporates technology that lets drones recognise and avoid objects on the ground using on-board cameras.

Comment
Now-a-days, businesses are increasingly using drones for things like inspecting rooftops or power lines, which raises the risk of in-flight mechanical and software problems that could put people below in danger.

Moreover, increasing number of drones in the sky is also a threat to people's life and their property in case if these unmanned aerial vehicles develop mechanical problems.

In such a scenario, this new technology will help drones in avoiding such crashes and help them in automatically spotting the best places to crash-land without hurting anyone on the ground.