Sun, Aug 06, 2023
Drones to Serve As Human Rights Survey Assistants
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the delivery of 9 autonomous drones donated by Skydio to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
The shipment was made up of Skydio 2+ drones, each boasting a 4K camera suite. USAID intends for the aircraft to be used to document war crimes throughout the Ukrainian front, assessing civilian infrastructure, damage, and human impacts wherever necessary. USAID says that 2 of its selected coalitions have documented "more than 40,000 incidents of Russia’s war crimes since February 24, 2022", both assisted by continued visits from USAID experts.
The Agency has been able to lean on a number of private businesses to provide donated materials in the continued war effort, noting that the Starlink data terminals, HP computers, and Microsoft equipment continue to serve the Ukrainian people free of charge to the US taxpayer. USAID made sure to mention its involvement in supporting continued Ukrainian grain production and export, too. USAID also participates in joint war crimes documentation visits with Ukraine’s Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights.
The donation only adds more drones to the ongoing fight as the world looks and learns about the many new functions small uncrewed aircraft can fulfill. Both sides in the conflict have proven keen on reimagining the drone-filled battlefield, pressing small, commercial-spec drones into use as decoys, reconnaissance platforms, and even homemade ordnance. While throwing their hat into the ring, Skydio is perhaps the most sedate of the drone companies pressing their kit into service in a war zone, staying within the Skydio 2+ operating handbook to a T with photographic survey and documentation.
USAID’s facilitation of drones donated by Skydio is the latest partnership with the U.S. private sector to support Ukraine. USAID has delivered Starlink data terminals donated by SpaceX, as well as laptops and software for Ukraine’s schoolchildren and teachers, donated by HP, Inc., JP.IK, and Microsoft. USAID also partners with the private sector to support Ukrainian grain production and export through the AGRI-Ukraine initiative launched in July 2022.
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