Eco-Drones
Chris Geist
By capitalizing on the FAA Modernization and Reform Act, which created guidelines for the introduction of unmanned aircraft, a system of drones can be deployed throughout New York City, spreading seeds to bridge the ecological gaps within the urban fabric. Better able to mitigate the urban context, the drones will do what natural processes could not, re-introducing plant-life to the city and aiding in sustainability.
High performance seeding dronesEco-drones hope to inspire a new form of thinking about ecology in the city. The current PlaNYC guide hopes to implement widespread Business Improvement Districts by marrying private practices with the public community. Ecology Improvement Districts will take that concept one step further, using self-organized communities to implement and manage to distribution and growth of drones.
A new form of thinking to replace PlaNYC's BID plan
Eco-drones spreading a variety of seeds over a test area
Rooftops could be seen as potential areas for growth
Section showing the drone's seeding machine
A drone scanning the city for areas to seedThe drones require new means of motion intelligence. Rather than following the systematic patterns of the city's traffic, drones can maneuver from one mode of transportation to another. Their own independent movement also adds another layer of complexity. When not hitching a ride from a taxi cab or the subway, they can move freely until they need to use a nesting station. Nesting stations almost appear at first glance as building ornament, but are instead modules where the drones can exchange digital information and recharge.
Diagram for drone mounting into a nesting station
Nesting stations could be located as modules on existing buildings
Comments