The UK and Ireland second Drone Summit has highlighted the great potential of drones in the economic growth of the UK and Ireland.
The summit, organised and sponsored by ANGOKA, supported by the UK Royal Air Force, Invest Northern Ireland and KPMG, who hosted the summit at their Belfast offices, gathered industry leaders from across the UK and Ireland including senior representatives from the British Civil Aviation, the UK Research and Innovation (InnovateUK), AWS, Manna, Skyport, Spright, Avtrain and others discussing the rapid advances being made in the sector.
The conference explored the economic benefits in the adoption of drone advancements, the role of rapid technology evolution in advancing drone capabilities and making its benefits a reality, the great and complex cybersecurity risks such advancement in technology brings to the drone industry as well as the regulatory and societal challenges the sector faces.
Shadi Razak, chief technology officer at ANGOKA, says: “Drones are allowing us to achieve more than ever before and continue to provide opportunities to businesses and the local economy. Whilst use of drones is important, the risks of cyber is real, both commercially and physically.
“The conference allowed us to discuss the benefits of wider adoption of drone usage, and how as an industry we can continue to make advancements. Northern Ireland in particular has really great opportunities for drone development with its thriving technological scene, as well as its links to the UK, Ireland and Europe.
“We heard of instances of drones being used in vital services, such as the delivery of medication, which is not only of huge benefit to local communities, but also in economic growth.
“However, as comes with this industry that is moving at a rapid pace, we must be mindful of the risk of cyber. There’s always a worry and a risk of drones being used recklessly or for malicious purposes, especially because it’s a relatively new technology in a new industry, and as we know, technology is always way ahead of regulations and frameworks that will govern and guide.”
ANGOKA is in the business to ensure the safety and resilience of next-generation air mobility by safeguarding the identification and communication of drone flight and operation in free space or air corridors.
Throughout the summit, the team at ANGOKA demonstrated to the audience that cybersecurity works both ways in the drone industry. Preventing hostile and unwanted drone activity on the one hand and protecting drones from interference by hackers and other unauthorised sources. The team demonstrated the takeover of a commercial drone, spoofing its video stream and bringing it to fall from the sky.
Mr Razak concludes: “Drones will have a huge impact on us as a society, even for our own safety, and whilst use of drones is important, but the risks of cyber is real, both commercially and physically. It’s events like this that are so important to bring together thought leaders and innovators to discuss the benefits, and also the downfalls, that come with UAVs, and how as an industry we can work together to ensure both physical and digital security.”
