In Westport, Connecticut, police are testing Draganfly’s newly designed “pandemic drones” to see if the technology can help detect and slow the spread of COVID-19, Fox News reports.
In a recent video released by the makers of the drones, company CEO Cameron Chell said the drones can provide information on whether or not groups of people are properly social distancing, as well as detect heart and respiratory rates and body temperature — all in 4K definition. Additionally, the New York Post reports the drones can detect something as small as a cough or sneeze from up to 190 feet away.
The drones will reportedly not store or capture personal information and will not be permitted to fly over private residences. Instead, the company claims it will provide useful and anonymous data to help track the virus and inform leaders in making important regulatory decisions, in addition to acting as an early warning system of possible resurgences, NBC reports.
According to CNET, the Westport Police Department is the first to test the drones in the United States as part of a “Flatten the Curve Pilot Program,” allowing them to track the virus while decreasing infection risk to first responders.
Currently, NBCCT reports Westport has 197 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in its boundaries.