Bredebe (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Bredene/De Haan, west Flanders police zone donated old drones to VIVES University instead of discarding them. Police Chief Karin Vanhooren and researchers Ben De Pauw and Rob De Roo highlighted their use in training and research at the Flemish Training Centre (LOC) in Ostend, including medical transport and offshore applications.
The Bredene/De Haan, municipality in Belgium, province of West Flanders police zone has upgraded its drone fleet to meet new European regulations. Instead of discarding the older drones, they donated them to VIVES University of Applied Sciences. They mentioned that the university will use the drones for training, education, and research into innovative drone applications.
How are Bredene/De Haan police drones helping VIVES University?
According to Police Chief Karin Vanhooren, the donation is a way to be responsible with technology and ensure their drones always meet legal standards. The police hope to work with students and help them learn about drones. He mentioned that this will also help the university research new ways to use drones.
Chief of Police Karin Vanhooren of the Bredene/De Haan police zone says,
We believe it is important that used police technology does not simply end up in the trash, but that it is handled in a socially responsible manner. With this donation, we want to focus on a collaboration with technically trained young people.
The police wanted to find a good use for the drones instead of throwing them away. VIVES teaches people who work in emergency services, like the police and firefighters, how to use drones.
Officials mentioned that the university will use the drones for training and research. They said that this would help students and professionals learn how to use real drones. The donation gives VIVES access to real equipment, which will help students and professionals learn more about drones.
Ben De Pauw of the VIVES research team says,
We can use the drones directly, both in our Drone Applications’ training and for our research department at the Flemish Training Centre (LOC) in Ostend. In terms of research, we are thinking of developing new applications, for example for medical transport or applications in the offshore sector.
According to Ben De Pauw, this donation is special because the drones can be used right away in classes and research. The drones will be used in the ‘Drone Applications’ training program. Students will learn how to fly and take care of the drones. The drones will also be used in research at the Flemish Training Centre (LOC) in Ostend.
VIVES university is looking for new ways to use drones in different jobs. They are thinking about using drones to carry medicine and help with work at sea, like checking wind farms or finding people lost at sea. Lecturer Rob De Roo said that it’s not common to get such valuable equipment. The Bredene/De Haan police zone helped by giving VIVES the drones.
It is unique to receive such valuable operational equipment as a gift, and we would like to explicitly express our gratitude,
said Rob De Roo.
