The trial programme comprises 38 projects under the Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox, which will act as a secure testing environment and incubator for drone tech in the SAR.
Here are some of the projects that will soon take off.
Remote inspections of electrical lines and towers
As part of the pilot project, drones will be used to survey vast areas under CLP Power’s coverage. They will be checking 17,000 kilometres worth of overhead lines and cables as well as the electric towers that are powering their extensive distribution network.
Eric Cheung, senior director of power systems at CLP, said these remote-controlled devices can swiftly gather real-time data, rapidly identify external risks, pinpoint fault locations, and expedite assessments and maintenance.
Engineering staff will also be able to operate drones from safe distances, he added.
Fully automated: AI powers infrastructure checks
Desmond Ho, the founder of local startup Alpha AI says the pilot programme’s regulatory sandbox gives his firm the chance to test their fully-automated drones’ ability to check structures and other infrastructure.
The drones – equipped with high-definition cameras – would use AI to detect defects and analyse any damage they find.
Ho said that previously, legal restrictions meant their drones had to be controlled manually, adding the use of automated drones will greatly boost efficiency.
"We believe that could save over 50 percent of the cost or time for the people, but most importantly, we can reduce the accident rate that could happen in remote areas or outdoors.”
He added that this technology can also monitor the condition of buildings during the rainy season and even before and after the passage of typhoons.
Alpha AI is already working with the Housing Authority to conduct external wall inspections of public housing estates.
Rural deliveries made easy
The pilot project will also make life easier for residents in remote areas, who could soon benefit from unmanned delivery services.
Lalamove and Yixin Smart Technologies will be looking to test the delivery of medicine, healthcare products and documents to the farthest of locations, including the outlying islands.
Barry Cheung, founder and chairman of the Low-altitude Economy Association of Hong Kong, China, said drones can carry out deliveries when land travel is not an option.
"Our core mindset is to use this project to operate the flight between Hong Kong Island to other islands like Cheung Chau," he said.
"We use the drone to [make deliveries] to Cheung Chau. This is very efficient, requires [less] time and also [can] provide an immediate response to those needy people especially for the elders in Cheung Chau."
Aerial medical solutions
Drones will be used to save lives at the mountaintop Princess Margaret Hospital.
China Mobile plans to use them to speed up deliveries of medicine, blood and other supplies between buildings at the hospital campus.
"They are located on Lai King Hill and their buildings are quite [far] apart. [Currently], they have a third-party logistics company to arrange transportation once per hour to send the specimen and the medical amount to different buildings," said the telecommunication firm’s Becky Lui.
"But if we are applying our drone solution to them, then they can arrange the delivery at any time when they need. This will greatly enhance the efficiency of the delivery services."
China Mobile also said they hope to expand their drone delivery services to other hospitals.
