Reflecting upon the humanitarian use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)

Abstract

Nine years after the earthquake in Haiti and the appearance of the concept of "humanitarian drones", it remains a poorly discussed yet highly controversial issue. Emergency mapping and light cargo deliveries to inaccessible areas are only some of the most popular ways in which drones are currently used for post-disaster relief and health crisis management by first responders around the world. On the other hand, every single successful use for drones is always followed by controversy about the problems caused by that very same, initially successful, use.However, examples of good practices will contribute to the investigation, study and analysis of the ways in which new, cutting-edge technologies such as drones can be implemented and adapted to meet the needs and requirements of humanitarian organisations and local communities affected by disasters. The issue is how and under what circumstances drone use can potentially fulfil humanitarian functions, particularly in the aftermath of a disaster, and how this type of technology could be deployed in non-violent, ethically desirable ways as part of the humanitarian response. In conclusion, it is questionable whether the benefits of using drones outnumber the moral obstacles they raise, and whether they will eventually be considered an inseparable part of humanitarian aid as well as a cutting-edge technological toy.

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“…Drones can also be used to rescue people suffering from sudden heart attacks, which is currently being done in a number of countries, including the United States and the Netherlands (Tang & Veelenturf, 2019 ). Drones were also used to assess the extent of Hurricane Pam’s damage in 2015 (Greenwood et al, 2020 ) and assist earthquake victims in 2010 (Tatsidou et al, 2019 ). During the current COVID-19 outbreak, drones were used on a large scale to combat the virus (Chamola et al, 2020 ).…”

“…However, we also explained that while drones are beneficial, they do have some limitations, for example: They are vulnerable to collisions (Chowdhury et al, 2017 ; Garg & Roy, 2020 ). The collection, processing, and security of drone data are not yet fully established, and the rules and ethics of this technology are not fully defined (Tatsidou et al, 2019 ). They must be licensed before flying and initiating the patrol process (Santamarina Campos, 2018 ; M Juul, 2015 ).…”

Ethical Considerations Associated with “Humanitarian Drones”: A Scoping Literature Review

“…The bibliometric analysis of the collected articles indicated a strong growth in articles published across the review's timespan, with the greatest number of articles released in 2019, the last complete year included. Based on this trend, and as suggested by publications early in 2020, we anticipate that this trend will continue, especially as interest in drone use appears to be strong in the humanitarian sector (Foundation for Responsible Martins, Lavallée, & Silkoset 2020;Knoblauch et al, 2019;Robotics, 2018;Tatsidou et al, 2019;USAID, 2017aUSAID, , 2017bWang, 2020Wang, , 2021a. A further feature that may propel this trend is that evolving regulatory environments in many countries are becoming increasingly receptive to drone use (Mauluka, 2019;Washington, 2018).…”

Development of the Aerial Remote Triage System using drones in mass casualty scenarios: A survey of international experts

“…With the growing use of drones in health emergencies and disasters, it is necessary to develop regulations for their correct use [ 56 ] and to balance risks and benefits in each situation [ 5 , 7 , 57 ]. Among the regulations adopted in some countries, we can find the necessity to obtain a certificate to pilot the drone or the use of drones only during daylight hours, with the drone in the line of sight and in controlled airspace [ 58 ].…”