Probably the coolest application I've seen for drones yet. Coverage at Gizmodo and Big Think.
Teenagers in Rio De Janeiro are teaming up with the United Nations and a nonprofit to document local health dangers. But it's not your usual mapping project: The teens hacked kites (which are popular toys in Rio's favelas) into aerial cameras. Using the digitally enhanced kits, the teenagers take impromptu aerial surveys of different neighborhoods. The kitecam pictures are then examined for signs of garbage piles, overgrown vegetation, physically dangerous public spaces, and other safety hazards. Using the aerial surveys, the kids then set out on foot to take geotagged camera phone pictures of the hazards.
Fast Company reports on the way kids in Rio de Janeiro have hacked kites into tools for aerial observation of health hazards. They're cooperating with UNICEF.
The Fast Company report on this fanciful device also links to another DIY quadcopter.
[News] Drones to Drop AEDs, Not Bombs http://t.co/3qgdYQJVcz #medicaldevice
— Medgadget (@Medgadget) August 28, 2013
Here's a followup of sorts to another story captured here, Matternet's plans to deliver medications and small packages.