Draganfly
Selected to Globally Integrate Breakthrough Health Diagnosis
Technology Immediately
onto Autonomous Camera's and Specialized Drones to Combat
Coronavirus
(COVID-19) and Future Health Emergencies
Partnering
with The University of South Australia developers of the technology
in collaboration with the Australian
Department of Defence
–
Defence
Science
and Technology Group
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada -- March 26, 2020 -- InvestorsHub NewsWire
-- Draganfly Inc. (CSE: DFLY) (OTCQB: DFLYF) (FSE: 3U8)
("Draganfly"
or the "Company"),
an award-winning, industry-leading manufacturer within the
commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ("UAV"),
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems ("RPAS"),
and unmanned vehicle sector, today announced that it has been
selected as the exclusive global systems integrator for a project
(the "Vital
Intelligence Project") with Vital Intelligence
Inc., a healthcare data services & deep learning company in
conjunction with the University of South Australia, using
technology developed with help from the Australian Department
of Defence
Science and
Technology Group (the "DST").
The Vital Intelligence
Project is a health and respiratory monitoring platform involving
utilizing new and existing camera networks as well as UAVs and RPAS
being immediately commercialized for health monitoring and
detection of infectious and respiratory conditions including
monitoring temperatures, heart and respiratory rates, amongst
crowds, workforces, airlines, cruise ships, potential at-risk
groups, i.e., seniors in care facilities, convention centers,
border crossings or critical infrastructure facilities. The
breakthrough technology was developed in a collaboration between
the University of South Australia and the DST.
Draganfly, in being
selected as the exclusive integration partner on March 25, 2020,
executed a binding agreement which has an initial budget of up to
$1.5M to utilize its engineering, integration and distribution
expertise as well as its secure supply chain for immediate
commercialization and deployment of the technology.
Dr. Javaan Chahl, Defence
Science and
Technology Chair at the University of South Australia said, "The
University and Defence
supported my
team's efforts to develop automation for use in epidemics and
disasters. We had imagined the technology being used in a future
relief expedition to some far-away place. Now, shockingly, we see a
need for its use in our everyday lives immediately. Draganfly's
industrial know-how is quickly helping us ensure our research can
save lives."
"Draganfly has been
selected because of its proven leadership in an industry so
important to public safety at such a critical time. We look forward
to working with global agencies and industry to rapidly deploy this
important technology," said Cameron Chell, CEO of
Draganfly.
"Draganfly is honored to
work on such an important project given the current pandemic facing
the world with COVID-19. Health and respiratory monitoring will be
vital for not only detection, but also utilizing the data to
understand health trends. As we move forward, drones and autonomous
technology doing detection will be an important part of ensuring
public safety," said Andy Card, Director of Draganfly and former
Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of
Staff.
Dr. Jack Chow, advisor to
the Vital Intelligence Project and the former first Assistant
Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) on
infectious diseases said: "With fighting epidemics rising as a
global priority, new versatile technologies, such as humanitarian
mission UAVs, are immediately needed to detect and track outbreaks
so that critical interventions can be deployed sooner and with
greater effectiveness."
About
University of South Australia
The
University of South Australia (UniSA)
is a public research university in the Australian state of South
Australia. It is a founding member of the Australian Technology
Network of universities and is the largest university in South
Australia with approximately 32,000 students. UniSA
is among
the world's top universities, ranked in the World's Top 50 Under 50
by both the Quacarelli
Symonds
(QS) World University Ranking (#25) and Times Higher (THE) (#26).
Under the University's Act, its original mission was "to preserve,
extend and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research,
scholarship and consultancy, and to provide educational programs
that will enhance the diverse cultural life of the wider
community".
About
Draganfly
Draganfly Inc. (CSE: DFLY; OTCQB: DFLYF; FSE: 3U8) is the creator of
quality, cutting-edge, UVS and software that revolutionizes the way
people do business. Recognized as being at the forefront of
technology for over 21 years, Draganfly is an award-winning,
industry-leading manufacturer within the commercial UAV and UVS
space, serving the public safety, agriculture, industrial
inspections and mapping and surveying markets. Draganfly is a
company driven by passion, ingenuity and the need to provide
efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers
around the world with the goal of saving time, money and
lives.
For more information on
Draganfly, please visit us at draganfly.com.
For additional investor
information, visit https://www.thecse.com/en/listings/technology/draganflyinc,
https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DFLYF/overview
or https://www.boerse-frankfurt.de/aktie/draganfly-inc.
Media
Contact
Arian Hopkins
email: arian@businessinstincts.com
Company
Contact
Phone:
1-306-955-9907
Email: info@draganfly.com
Forward-Looking
Statements
This release
contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain
"forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian
securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can
generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology
such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate",
"anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar
terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are based
on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet
determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to
be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business,
economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.
Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various
known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond
the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause
the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and
are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties
and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to:
the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health
crises, including the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus
known as COVID-19 on the Company's business, operations and
financial condition, the successful integration of technology, the
inherent risks involved in the general securities markets;
uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing
needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates
and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, currency
fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, liability, competition, loss
of key employees and other related risks and
uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking information except as required by applicable law.
Such forward-looking information represents managements' best
judgment based on information currently available. No
forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future
results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or
information.