Study group to chart out roadmap for tapping potential of drones

The Karnataka Knowledge Commission (KKC) is coming out with a strategy to utilise Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology in the sectors of town planning, crop and forest survey, pollution monitoring, civic operations among others, specific to the State.

UAS - commonly known as drones - are remotely operated small flying machines without a pilot aboard.

The KKC has constituted a study group to prepare a roadmap for tapping the applications of UAS in various sectors.

The panel, jointly headed by National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) director Baldev Raj and Sagitaur Ventures India chairman and CEO B V Naidu, has also been given the task of coming out with demonstrative projects in association with various departments of the government for end-to-end governance.

“This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. Bengaluru - being the hub for aerospace technology development - is the best place to launch the venture. Data collected from senors aboard UAS will help in mapping, planning, decision-making, governance,” KKC member secretary Mukund Rao said.

The 21-member study panel, constituted by KKC, has representatives from Indian Space Research Organisation, National Aerospace Laboratories, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, National Disaster Response Force, Indian Institute of Technology, besides top-ranking government officials and the academia.

Six-month deadline
The study group has been given six months’ time to come out with the “UAS Technology, Applications and Policy: Karnataka Vision”. 

The group will hold its first meeting early next month. Six more months have been provided for the panel to come out with UAS demonstration case studies.

The idea for having a well-defined positioning of UAS technology germinated at a round table organised by KKC on civilian applications of unmanned aerial systems last year.

Policy recommendations
The panel will come out with recommendations on the policy measures that the governments need to take to encourage UAS research in institutions and universities and also a roadmap for adopting the technology into the higher education system.

The study group will come out with a document on legal issues pertaining to UAS and measures to be taken to prevent its misuse, Rao said.
 
*It is a first-of-its-kind initiative to come out with a well-defined policy on drones
*21-member study group with experts, academia and top-ranking officials to hold first meeting next month
*Panel to come out “UAS Technology, Applications and Policy: Karnataka Vision” in six months
*UAS demonstration case studies to be taken up with user government departments