Drones and the Future of Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities
Overview: Drones have the potential to revolutionize services for the elderly and people with disabilities. By 2030, about 20% of the U.S population will be over 65 years old. Already, 1 in 4 U.S adults has some type of disability. With technology, like drones, we can enhance their quality of life and level of independence. This guide explores how drones might assist with daily living, health care, and emergency response. Also, it briefly introduces 3Laws Robotics and its contributions to enhancing the safety and efficiency of these potential uses.
Daily Living: Drones can help make daily life easier for the elderly and those with disabilities. Potentially, drones could collect mail, help with yard work, or even fetch items from hard to reach places. According to the Census Bureau, around 39.7 million Americans live with mobility disabilities, and drone technology could greatly help enhance their independence. Furthermore, drone usage can decrease dependency on others and increase self-sufficiency, benefiting the mental wellness of the individual.
Health Care: Health care is an important area where drones can be particularly beneficial. For instance, they can help deploy necessary medical supplies or prescriptions. According to WHO, 400 million people do not have access to essential health services, and disabled and elderly populations often fall under that category just because they have difficulties getting to local pharmacies. Besides, 80% of adults aged 65 and over have at least one chronic disease, and drones can ensure their regular medication is accessible with required consistency.
Emergency response: In emergency situations, drones can be extremely valuable. From surveying an area for any potential risks to summoning immediate help, drones could provide a quick response, potentially saving lives. A lack of immediate aid results in nearly 50% of home fatalities. Therefore, drone technology could become an essential tool to provide immediate assistance during an emergency, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly or disabled.
Key Takeaways:
- Drones have the potential to drastically enhance the daily living, health care, and emergency response for the elderly and the disabled.
- Drones can provide vital accessibility for those suffering from mobility issues, which constitute 39.7 million Americans.
- They can also play a role in increasing access to necessary health care services, a problem facing 400 million people worldwide.
- Prompt provision of aid by drones can also reduce the number of fatalities that occur due to delay in assistance.
About 3Laws Robotics:
3Laws is focused on leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) to enhance safety and reliability in robotics systems. The company's software, 3Laws Supervisor, aims to simplify the certification process by offering robust safety features and evidence of system robustness. Some key sectors that benefit from 3Laws' technology include warehouse automation, human-robot interaction, and dynamic environments. 3Laws' software is adaptable and compatible with a wide range of platforms, including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators. 3Laws is envisioned as the next-generation solution for robotics safety that can unlock the full potential of robotics with dynamic, predictive safety which can be safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.