Botswana’s Aeronautical Solutions Launches First Local Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Botswana’s Aeronautical Solutions has created the nation’s first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for use in anti-poaching drills as well as for security and surveillance needs. The drone project, funded by the Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF), is a partnership between Aeronautical Solution and the partners and network of the Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub (BDIH).
Botswana’s entry into the UAV market comes at a time when drones are being used more frequently in Africa to assist with security issues, healthcare delivery, and many other areas, including battling rhino poaching in South Africa. Following a string of violent attacks on tourists on Table Mountain, the South African government announced plans to use drones and install cameras to monitor visitors to the popular tourist destination. This announcement was made in Cape Town.
BIF is a government agency established to support innovation by offering seed and early-stage funding to businesses and organizations registered with the Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub. By offering cash grants for use in institutional training and on-the-job training programs, the fund also promotes the transfer of skills to citizens.
Thero Matenge, co-founder of Aeronautical Solutions, claimed that in the case of Botswana, the company’s unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, or Shepherd V1, could be used for a variety of purposes, including anti-poaching, security, and surveillance, as well as agricultural management.
“Currently, it has the capacity to fly within a 15km radius, which is determined by its connection to the transmitter. But, the drone itself has the capacity to fly for longer distances when connected to a satellite,” said Matenge.
As the company looks beyond the borders of the nation, Sithembile Dingake, the BIF coordinator, pleaded with the people to support and adopt the technology. We ought to use our own inventions as consumers, she said.
“We have seen incremental innovation in what Aeronautical Solutions has done and there are more opportunities to advance the technology in the potential dimensions the drone can do.
“Through the funding from BIF, and the additional resources provided by BDIH, we have seen this project take flight to where it is now, and we’re committed to seeing it become a pioneer and sustainable player in the local aeronautical industry.”
New drone technology is already being introduced to Botswana, with the potential to completely change important industries like transportation, agriculture, and healthcare. Drones provide a lot of advantages, including improved public safety and security as well as quicker and more effective delivery of products and services. To ensure that this technology is used properly and to its fullest capacity, it is crucial to understand the potential effects of it.
In the meantime, Aeronautical Solutions has created a flight training curriculum to introduce kids to the aviation sector. According to him, the business has localized certain technology and created a system that enables the drone to be operated similarly to an aircraft.