UK vows £20 million to boost drone and 'flying taxi' services

UK vows £20 million to boost drone and 'flying taxi' services

A Police officer uses a drone as he works outside the Arndale Centre shopping complex in Manchester, northwest England on October 11, 2019, following a series of stabbings. Police arrested a man on terror charges Friday after a mass stabbing at a shopping centre in Manchester, northwest England, that left five people injured. The man in his 40s was "lunging and attacking people" with a large knife in the Arndale shopping centre, Police Chief Russ Jackson said. The suspect was detained within five minutes and initially arrested for assault, before this was changed to an accusation of preparing and instigating an act of terrorism.
A Police officer uses a drone as he works outside the Arndale Centre shopping complex in Manchester, northwest England on October 11, 2019, following a series of stabbings. Police arrested a man on terror charges Friday after a mass stabbing at a shopping centre in Manchester, northwest England, that left five people injured. The man in his 40s was "lunging and attacking people" with a large knife in the Arndale shopping centre, Police Chief Russ Jackson said. The suspect was detained within five minutes and initially arrested for assault, before this was changed to an accusation of preparing and instigating an act of terrorism.. Photo: Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
Source: AFP

The UK government said Tuesday it had pledged £20 million ($25.8 million) to help commercial drone services and "flying taxis" take off in Britain.

The drone delivery market has landed in several countries including the United States, allowing customers to have online shopping dropped at their doors by fleets of flying robots.

There have been several pilot schemes in the UK too -- from island postal services to rapid blood sample transport -- but commercial drone deliveries have been slower to get off the ground.

Earlier this year Amazon, one of the big companies dominating the field in the United States, said it had chosen a town in northern England for its first UK drone parcel deliveries -- though it is still not clear when the scheme in Darlington could start.

Announcing the UK government funding on Tuesday, the transport ministry said the money would help kickstart new technologies and streamline regulations, in a move it said would benefit companies but could also see drones used by firefighters and paramedics.

Read also

UK Supreme Court opens car loans hearing as banks risk huge bill

The ministry added the UK's Civil Aviation Authority would receive £16.5 million from 2025-26 to work on regulations for drones and electric air taxis -- vehicles which resemble a cross between a drone and a small plane, and can take off like helicopters.

The regulations "could see air taxis in use from 2028," the transport ministry claimed, adding a further £5 million would be used "to support industry to turn these new technologies into profitable business that benefits communities".

Critics have argued the government should focus its attention elsewhere, and have raised concerns about the use of drones and aerial surveillance by the authorities.

Unions are also worried about the risk to jobs, while earlier this year the UK's prison watchdog warned gangs were using drones to deliver drugs and drop weapons to inmates inside jails.

Welcoming the new funding, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said a "regulatory system that keeps pace" was needed for new technologies to succeed.

Read also

OpenAI says it raised $40 bn at valuation of $300 bn

"This is regulation that will unlock a raft of new commercial and public service opportunities for the use of drones," he said.

He said drones would have to transmit their location to reduce the risk of crashes and the "highest safety standards" would be maintained.

Aviation minister Mike Kane said he wanted "the UK to have the most advanced aviation technology ecosystem in the world."

"That means creating a nimble regulatory environment and a culture of innovation, so everyone can benefit from cutting-edge transport," he said.

The UK has so far seen the deployment of an army of flightless shopping delivery robots in Milton Keynes, post delivered by drone on the Scottish isles of Orkney, and blood samples sent through the skies by a London hospital for urgent testing.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.