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Dumblyte, Jurgita (2018) HelpCopter drone volunteer services: Requirements Specification Document. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.
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Abstract
I got the project idea during the author’s Business Analyst internship in a Dublin-based drone marketplace Skytango, a small start-up that connects commercial drone operators (aerial photographers and video-makers) with aerial content buyers. I felt that there is much more to drones than exploring landscapes from 400 feet above the ground for recreational or commercial use.
Drone industry, although fast growing, is still an emerging market. Regulatory frameworks in most countries across the world are still in different development stages, with FAA regulations in United States being the most advanced to date.
I became extremely interested in innovative companies that invest their talent, creativity and resources into developing drones with a higher purpose: making the work across the different industries (agriculture, mining, mapping, etc) easier, and ultimately, saving lives.
Drones can provide network connectivity in disaster areas, observe the damage done by the chemical spill, look for survivors after the natural disasters or terror attacks, use the thermal imaging cameras in search and rescue operations, detect and detonate landmines (Dumblyte, 2017), assist firefighters by locating people in a building on fire.
That was when the HelpCopter idea was born. HelpCopter is a digital platform, dedicated to assist first response teams in their emergency missions by providing timely and reliable help from above,- connecting them with qualified, licensed and responsible drone pilots. It consists of a website and a mobile app, available on both IOS and Android operating systems. First response teams will be able to use interactive map to see which volunteers are available and in what proximity they currently are from the particular area where the assistance is required. HelpCopter is a global platform, therefore registered volunteers that are travelling to different countries during their holidays, might be called for help by local first response teams, unless they choose to change their privacy settings accordingly ( possible variations: “Available 24/7”, “Unavailable dd/mm to dd/mm”, etc).
The very idea of drone volunteer services is not completely novel. However, analysis and evaluation of companies already providing these services shows the lack of emphasis in providing a reliable and professional service, allowing this initial noble idea to become rather a hobbyist activity,- unqualified, undocumented, unreliable, and quite possibly dangerous.
Prior to commencing work on this project, I have received Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems certificate for completing a beginners SUAS course at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and kept my knowledge about drone technology up to date by following leading drone manufacturing companies, attending commercial drone events and communicating with drone subject matter experts. All of this greatly assisted me at gaining a better insight to the possible opportunities and pitfalls in such project’s realization.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Undergraduate) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > QA Mathematics > Electronic computers. Computer science T Technology > T Technology (General) > Information Technology > Electronic computers. Computer science Q Science > QA Mathematics > Computer software T Technology > T Technology (General) > Information Technology > Computer software H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Specific Industries > Aviation Industry |
| Divisions: | School of Computing > Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Technology Management |
| Depositing User: | Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Nov 2018 19:40 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Nov 2018 19:40 |
| URI: | https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3515 |
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