Alabama Open To Drone Technology
[gtxvideo vid=”MJV0E8ov” playlist=”” pid=”XiOflQdH” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/MJV0E8ov.jpg” vtitle=”Drone Task Force”]
More and more drones are hitting the market for you to buy.
The state of Alabama sees the potential for this new technology for just about every industry.
“Utility companies being able to assess pipe lines and utility lines and all of those, contractors being able to utilize them to evaluate and inspect work on buildings,” said John McMillian, Alabama Agriculture Commissioner and chairman of the drone task force.
The state’s drone task force says the list goes on and on. Governor Robert Bentley created the task force in August to look at how the state could benefit from using the new tool. It’s a more open approach than states like North Carolina which put a moratorium on anyone using drones.
“I think that would be an unimaginable mistake so that’s another good reason for including legislative representation in our deliberations,” said McMillian.
With lawmakers returning in a couple months, the task force wants to make sure they’re included in the future discussions.
People in the state are excited about the potential as well.
Tony Hopper owns a cattle farm, and he’s been looking into how he can use one.
“I could send a drone, if it were practical to do so, across the road over here to check on a cow to see if she’s had a calf already. Or I might could send it across the road and instead of taking a truck or another vehicle, I could send it over there and see if the cows are out of hay,” said Hopper.
One of the main concerns with this technology is privacy. That’s one of the factors behind North Carolina’s stance. But Hopper thinks the benefits could outweigh the negatives.
“They could be used in some not so good ways, but to me it seems like it might be a bit of overkill,” said Hopper.
