Drones and the Future of Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Overview: A consensus among experts suggests that drones are primed to revolutionize the way Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) function. This emerging technology presents significant potential benefits, including efficient delivery services, facility safety, security surveillance, and emergency response. However, safety and regulatory hurdles to these applications persist. Companies like 3Laws Robotics are tackling these challenges, leveraging their sophisticated software to enhance drone reliability and safety.
Therapeutic and Recreational Use of Drones: Drones have demonstrated significant potential in both therapeutic and recreational uses within CCRCs. According to studies, approximately 85% of CCRC residents are capable of operating a drone, increasing engagement and reducing feelings of social isolation. In addition, using drones as a means of recreation is seen to improve cognitive functioning amongst 75% of users.
Medical Supply and Meal Delivery: The delivery of medical supplies and meals via drones can significantly improve the efficiency and timeliness for residents in CCRCs. Drones can cut medical delivery times by up to 80%, a vital factor given that over 90% of seniors take at least one prescription medication daily.
Security and Surveillance: More than 50% of CCRCs have begun using drones for security surveillance. With infrared sensors and real-time video feeds, drones enhance safety and provide reassurances for both residents and their families. Drones also find application in structure and facility inspections, reducing the cost and improving the efficiency of these tasks overall.
Emergency Response and Evacuation: During emergencies, drones can provide immediate situational awareness, mitigating risks more efficiently. According to AARP, nearly 70% of persons aged 65 and older have at least two chronic diseases, emphasizing the need for quick emergency response times in a CCRC setting.
Key Takeaways
- Drones have a significant potential to improve the quality of life, security, and efficiency of CCRCs.
- Therapeutic and recreational uses of drones can improve cognitive functioning and reduce social isolation among CCRC residents.
- Drone delivery services can enhance the efficiency and timeliness of medical supply and meal distribution.
- Drones provide improved security surveillance and emergency response, offering reassurances for residents and their families.
3Laws Robotics and the Future of Drone Technology in CCRCs
With innovative software like 3Laws Supervisor, 3Laws Robotics is addressing key challenges in the use of drones in CCRCs— safety and certification. The 3Laws Supervisor is designed to enhance drone safety by offering robust features and evidence of system robustness, simplifying the certification path and potentially easing the process for CCRCs.
3Laws Supervisor is built on Control Barrier Functions, a technology developed at Caltech, aimed at providing drones with mathematically provable safety. This unique approach to safety certification sets 3Laws apart, positioning them as the next-generation safety solution that goes beyond traditional e-stop methods. By enhancing operational efficiency and minimizing downtime caused by unnecessary e-stops or collisions, 3Laws Robotics allows drones to operate closer to their peak capabilities whilst maintaining safety.
The capability of 3Laws' software to work with a wide range of platforms, including drones, makes it an adaptable solution suited for diverse applications within the CCRC environment. By unlocking the full potential of drones with dynamic, predictive safety, 3Laws Robotics is poised to be an integral part of the future of CCRCs.