News item from the Mundo Drone archive, published 4 April 2020. Text merged on 28 October 2026 from all its 2020 versions; specifications, availability and regulations may have changed since.
Technology is playing an important role in the fight against Covid-19 coronavirus. Digital services, fast tests, 3D printers and, of course, drones. The Military Emergency Unit (UME) has begun to use these unmanned aerial vehicles for disinfection work in large areas in a pilot project. An intelligent use that may seem like science fiction.
Among the tasks of this specialized team has been assigned the cleaning of streets as prevention of new infections. But, in addition to the use of traditional tools, they have carried out the first drone tests, according to a statement from the security forces, to be "more effective". One of the units that is working in this field is the Transmission Battalion (BTUME). In order to achieve this, the UME has received two drones in recent weeks from two companies in the sector, Stock RC and DroneTools, which have joined its list of equipment already deployed so far.
But to incorporate it as a useful tool some changes have had to be made in the original design because, according to the unit, it is about drones prepared for the agricultural sector (fields, forests and large areas). In particular, it is a drone from the Chinese giant DJI, the Agras-MG1 model, belonging to Stock RC, and a second model, Drone Hexa XL, loaned by the manufacturer DroneTools. What is the dynamic of use? The unit began at the end of March to perform nebulisation tests on an open field and a vehicle at a height of about three metres, obtaining "satisfactory results".
After the first phase of testing , the EMU has used it outdoors and for large objects of urban furniture on the understanding that "they may be useful for disinfection tasks" being carried out within the framework of Operation Balmis. These drones have a capacity of 10 litres of payload, so in a standard use, they could fumigate approximately half a hectare (the case of the Agras-MG1 model) and one hectare (Drone Hexa XL) with a single battery charge, estimated at about 15 minutes of autonomy. "Spain has become the first European country to use agricultural drones to contain pandemics," DJI said in a statement.
Source: abc.es