Important Facts For Prelims
VIHANGAM
- 17 Dec 2021
- 3 min read
Why in News
Recently, an internet-based platform called ‘VIHANGAM’ integrated with a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) was inaugurated.
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
- It is one of the major coal producing companies of India. It is one of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited.
- MCL was the first coal company to introduce environment-friendly Surface Mining technology in 1999.
- The biggest fleet of 66 Surface Miners is contributing 95%of the total coal production of the company.
Key Points
- About:
- The system consists of a Ground Control Station (GCS), an RPAS, internet lease line of 40 Mbps and VIHANGAM portal.
- The system enables real-time transmission of aerial video of mining activities from mines to internet platforms which can be accessed through VIHANGAM portal by authorized personnel only having ID and password.
- Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS):
- RPAS is one subset of the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).
- There are three subsets of Unmanned Aircraft- Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Autonomous Aircraft and Model Aircraft.
- Drone is a layman terminology for Unmanned Aircraft (UA).
- Remotely piloted aircraft have been divided into five categories based on their weight (existing rules).
- Nano : Less than or equal to 250 grams.
- Micro : From 250 grams to 2kg.
- Small : From 2 kg to 25kg.
- Medium : From 25kg to 150kg.
- Large : Greater than 150kg
- Remotely Piloted Aircraft consists of remote pilot station(s), the required command and control links and any other components, as specified in the type design.
- Other Initiatives Using UAVs:
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched a Drone-Based vaccine delivery model named, Drone Response and Outreach in North East (i-Drone).
- Telangana government has selected 16 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) for pilot testing the ambitious ‘Medicine from the sky’, the first-of- its-kind project.
- The International Crops Research Institute (ICRISAT) was permitted to deploy drones for agricultural research activities, apart from some agriculture universities and educational institutions.
