Plan to use quadcopters to deliver ID cards, driving licences

The Ministry of Cabinet Affairs has laid down a prospective plan to use unmanned copters (drones) to deliver government services to its citizens.

Dr Noah Raford and Pilot Abdulrahman Mansour Alserkal with the remote-controlled quadcopter. — KT Photo by Rahul Gajjar

The remote-controlled quadcopter, flown by four rotors, shall be tracked through the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The drones would be used to deliver government services to people such as ID cards, driving licences and mail packages.

They would be fitted with hi-tech devices, which will be able to recognise a recipient by scanning his/her fingerprint which — if access gets accepted — will unlock a compartment enabling a customer to pick up his mail.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Noah Raford, special advisor at the ministry, said the remote-controlled quadcopter can carry documents weighing 1.5kg. It will serve places, which are close to government service facilities across the country, he said.

Dr Noah also said the government has a serious plan to put the best technological and technical applications into practice so as to promote, enhance and facilitate the government services rendered to the public.

Meanwhile, Khaleej Times has learnt that the government is planning to instal smart gates at the Dubai Airport through which travelers could be screened for certain kind of infections and diseases. The gates shall be installed in phases, and will be initially operated on trial basis at the Dubai Airport.

Smart education has been also envisaged in a way that brings new methods for learning such as through which students could learn terrains by moving sands, and on which terrains could be drawn up based on its altitude above sea level.

mustafa@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE