Phone-A-Drone Concept Aims to Simplify Inspection

A group of Arizona State graduate students invented a drone company called Phone-A-Drone as part of a class project, and are now considering it for a future enterprise. According to an article in The State Press, the service would allow construction workers to call Phone-A-Drone to inspect work sites for them and ensure the safety of the buildings. Additionally, the drone used for inspecting would utilize unique technology configured by the students. For example, Phone-A-Drone’s technology allows its drone to detect surroundings using light detection and ranging (LIDAR). LIDAR is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsated laser to measure ranges to the Earth, according to State Press. With LIDAR, the drone could also be used in mining applications where it is difficult to safely navigate. The students also added a visual positioning system to the drone-an augmented reality system that estimates location and orientation with respect to the surrounding environment.