News Report | Sarah Pickering Blue Mountains, NSW
29 April 2024
(Photograph: Weichao Deng on Unsplash)
A drone company considered a ‘national security concern’ by the ADF is surveying Blue Mountains residential powerlines from February to July.
NSW Endeavour Energy are pioneering an AI fleet of DJI Mavic-3T drones, trained to locate electrical faults across the 13,000-kilometre network with elite precision.
Preventative technology was recommended in the Coroner’s 2019-20 Bushfire Inquiry report. However, Endeavour’s decision to fly DJI drones lacks uniformity with other government-run agencies.
Australia’s Defence Force, Border Force, Federal Police and Foreign Affairs began removing DJI assets over security concerns last year. DJI has also long been accused of complicity in Human Rights violations, which the company has denied. The tech giant continues to lead in commercial and retail suppliers.
Perception Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence expert Alex Virgona said using drones to survey infrastructure at scale was economical and practical. However, surveying residential areas with a brand that Australia’s leading security agencies are avoiding was worrying.
“There are so many great opportunities to solve important problems using robotics and AI and we should embrace that technology wherever possible, but… we need to balance that pace with taking the appropriate measures,” Mr Virgona said.
“At a minimum, I would hope [Endeavour Energy] reach out and understand why those other agencies are divesting from these products to assess the risks for themselves,” he said.
Human Rights Institute Director Justine Nolan said Governments are advised to consider ethics alongside economics in their supply chains, but that applying the advice remained optional.
“If you don’t have clear guidelines or regulations that stipulate that you need to look at both issues, then it comes down to price… Price and a lack of clear procurement guidelines,” Ms Nolan said.
To ensure local environment safety aligns with national security and global ethics, Australian legislators must get their Act together.