by Juanita Nonwo – EM TV Online
Known to the military as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) or RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems), and commonly known to most people as drones – these flying devices are probably the next advanced cross between science, electronics and engineering.
Drones can be aircraft or flying devices that are remotely controlled without having a pilot on board, thus the name unmanned aerial vehicle.
The use of these robotic flying devices has recently taken to the skies in no time, mainly because unlike manned air crafts, they are affordable and able to stay in the air for longer periods.
The first use of drone-like devices wa recorded in 1849, when Austria launched a group of about 200 pilot-less balloons attached with bombs to drop over the city of Venice.
Today with modern advanced technology, the uses of drones has varied from being of military use in combat areas too risky for soldiers and providing a 24 hour ‘eye in the sky’ surveillance for troops, to helping farmers with precision agriculture to provide aerial views for them to observe irrigation systems and plants, all the way to Hollywood movie making giving film makers the chance to capture more innovative shots without limitations.
Recently during the two week course of the 15th Pacific Games, Papua New Guinea was fortunate enough to experience the use of this latest technology with exceptionally high definition aerial views of some of the sporting events that took place, as well as other images around Port Moresby.
The aerial shots were taken by Jason Pini, Team Papua New Guinea’s photographer who attached a camera onto a drone that flew above the country’s capital, capturing remarkable images and videos.
