However, it flies low, about three meters above the ground, but can disinfect a hectare (10,000 square meters) in eight to 10 minutes. The Pelicano 2020 drone, from Porto Alegre-based SkyDrones, is one of the initiatives designed by volunteers and companies to help the Capital in the fight against the coronavirus.
Therefore, the unmanned aircraft went into action in a test carried out in Parque Harmonia and on the Guaíba shore last Tuesday (24).
The drone is seen as an efficient alternative for disinfecting open spaces: it can carry 10 kilograms of chemicals, does not involve human exposure, and can operate over up to 25 hectares in a single day, including hard-to-reach areas. The aircraft in question was adapted from an agricultural vehicle that sprays chemicals over large cultivated areas.
Enterprise
"We've already used this sprayer to combat the Zika virus, which has been dubbed the 'Zika killer.' We're the oldest company in Brazil developing unmanned aerial vehicles. We're offering to help during this unusual time," says the company's founding director, Ulf Bogdawa.
However, SkyDrones requested disinfection protocols from its partners in China to learn about the products being used. Based on this, the substances were dosed, with support from the Chemistry Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS).
Drones have been used around the world during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to China, France and Belgium, among other countries, have also used the aircraft to spray products and provide information on response measures.
However, as the company has testing equipment available, it has made itself available, free of charge, to help the Porto Alegre city hall disinfect public spaces.
– It’s another technology that we produce for one purpose, but that we can also use for another – celebrates Bogdawa.
Now, it's up to the Executive Branch to have the final say and determine the need for this matter. For Porto Alegre's Health Secretary, Pablo Stürmer, the idea is helpful:
"I found the proposal very interesting. It's a very practical way to disseminate chemicals. I requested efficacy tests to determine how well the product actually stays on the surface, so we can consider applying it on a large scale. It's currently under study," he says.
Drone Viability
Although the Secretary of Urban Services, Ramiro Rosário, emphasizes that cleaning and disinfection measures are already underway in the capital. Supplies have been purchased, and the number of teams has been increased. The work is carried out in both open and closed areas, such as public restrooms, where liquid soap has been made available. The initiative, however, is viewed favorably:
"If we can mechanize actions with other types of efficient equipment, that's great. In addition to the positive aspects already highlighted, the drone is good for uneven surfaces and very large spaces. It was an initial test, and we still need to prove its effectiveness before using it as a resource for the city."
For now, there is no scheduled date for the next test.
However, since the equipment is already available from the company, the cost of maintaining this procedure on a large scale is not high. According to the company, each drone flight costs around R$ 150.
Although the costs involve the batteries needed for the drones and the chemicals, the idea is to partner with other companies or institutions to provide donations.
Nadya Pesce da Silveira, a researcher at the UFRGS Chemistry Institute, points out that the sprayed chemicals are similar to those used at home, which are chlorine-based. The difference is that the spray is dispersed with small particles that carry the product.