5 brilliant uses of drones you never thought about

Photo credit: Slate

These days, drones are most commonly used in aerial photography and 3D mapping. It sure takes things to a whole new level. But do you know that it can be applied for waitressing or even fishing? These are 5 other brilliant uses of drones you might not have heard about.

1. Waiter drones

This waiter drone called “Infinium Serve” is created and produced by Singapore’s Infinium Robotics. Singapore’s Timbre Group planned to fully utilize the drones to operate in their restaurants by the first half of 2016, but the schedule got delayed because the drones are “still undergoing the final stages of development”. Plans are underway to fully implement this by mid 2016.

The first restaurant to use drones as waiters is London-based Yo Sushi. They used an RC Quadcopter, which they have to control manually, as compared to Infinium Serve, which is fully automated. Infinium Serve can currently carry a payload up to 1kg, which they plan to increase to 1.5kg.

Also see:

Launch plans for serving drones at Timbre grounded for now

London-based Yo Sushi restaurant using drone to serve food.

2. Delivery drones

You may have heard that in the future, delivery drones, instead of delivery men, will be the ones delivering your packages. Amazon’s PrimeAir has launched a new commercial with Jeremy Clarkson that claims to be using real footage. Amazon said on their PrimeAir page that they will deploy the PrimeAir when they have the regulatory support needed to realize their vision.

While Amazon is still in their promotional phase, a California-based startup Matternet has been running drone deliveries for medical supplies and specimens in countries around the world since it was founded in 2011. But they don’t plan on building a business around it.

Also see:

Drone delivery is already here – and it works

3. Fishing drones

In New Zealand, there’s a fishing method called kontiki fishing. Kontiki fishing is a traditional style of fishing in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. It involves using a sail raft, kite, or a modern torpedo type device to pull your line from the beach out to sea, onto which you attach your hooks and baits. After a period of time, you retrieve your line and the fish you have caught.

In the early 2000s, kontiki fishing was made simple using an electric kontiki. The idea is to use some kind of torpedo-like device and launching it into the sea with the line attached, and with the hooks and baits. Once it is far out enough, you reel them in with the torpedo-like device.

In 2014, the AeroKontiki is born. You cast the line, hooks and baits out to sea using drones, and once far out enough, the drone returns to you. After a period of time, you can reel them in for your catch. One benefit of using drones for this is that you will be able to reach less accessible areas, and can make manoeuvres with the drone without being confined to movement in a straight line.

4. Firefighting drones

5. Drone racing