At Mount Everest, Sherpas typically carry heavy loads of waste—such as oxygen canisters and human waste—down treacherous trails. However, this year, for the first time, drones proved helpful. Two DJI FlyCart 30 drones carried 280 kg of trash from Camp 1 to base camp in just six minutes, a journey that takes Sherpas four hours. Operated by Nepal’s Airlift Technology, the drones did 70% of the heavy lifting, according to officials.

This represents a global shift. With extreme weather, disasters, and hazardous conditions on the rise, drones are being utilised for rescue, relief, and monitoring in ways that people alone can’t manage.

Global Examples of Drones in Action

In Germany, Dryad Networks launched an autonomous drone system that detects wildfires early using solar sensors. Once smoke is detected, a drone flies to the location and sends real-time images to firefighters.

In the US, drones have saved lives. In Malibu, an older man was rescued after being spotted by an infrared drone on a cold Christmas Eve. In Oregon, a driver trapped in a snowy forest taped a message to a drone, which flew high enough for the message to be sent, leading to his rescue.

Drones in Disaster Zones

After Ukraine’s Kakhovka dam collapsed in 2023, a drone dropped food, water, and a note to a trapped family before they were rescued. In China, during recent floods, a drone intended for crop spraying flew a man to safety from a rooftop. Drones have also been used for disinfecting, firefighting, and delivering supplies in extreme conditions.

Drones for Data and Response

Patrick Meier, who once mapped Haiti’s earthquake using digital tools, now uses drones to map disaster zones from the air. His nonprofit, WeRobotics, trains local communities worldwide in the use of drones for emergencies. In Nepal, young engineers are learning to use drones to prepare for future disasters.

A Look Ahead

Drones are proving to be more than just high-tech tools. From Everest to flood zones, they’re helping where humans can’t go—hauling, rescuing, detecting, and connecting. They don’t replace people; they expand what we can do.

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