Geneva, 8 July, 2023 (GNP): The AI-powered robotic vehicles will deliver food parcels in conflict and disaster zones as early as next year, potentially sparing the lives of humanitarian workers who often face perilous conditions, a World Food Programme (WFP) official said.
The attacks against aid workers have reached alarming levels in recent years, coinciding with a surge in violent conflicts unseen since World War II, as reported by the United Nations.
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Earlier this year WFP, the UN’s food aid agency lost three dedicated workers in Sudan’s conflict. To address this critical issue, the WFP’s innovation department, led by Bernhard Kowatsch, has championed the use of AI technology to create a transformative solution.
Speaking on the sidelines of a conference organized by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva, Kowatsch emphasized the potential of AI to assist in achieving the United Nations’ global goals, particularly the eradication of hunger. He stated, “Sometimes it’s too dangerous to send in a driver or WFP staff. So, using that technology could be a step change.”
The concept of AI-powered robotic vehicles delivering aid parcels originated during the arduous battle for Aleppo in Syria from 2012 to 2016, Kowatsch said.
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He said that humanitarian workers faced significant challenges in providing aid to besieged areas of the city. Traditional air drops proved to be expensive and required extensive space, which was scarce in that part of Syria. As a response, the innovative amphibious trucks, capable of carrying approximately 1-2 tonnes of food each, were conceived, Kowatsch said.
The UN agency is already using approximately 50 of the vehicles in South Sudan, but they currently require drivers. However, under the AHEAD (Autonomous Humanitarian Emergency Aid Devices) project, in collaboration with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the WFP is preparing to conduct tests on them without drivers in early 2024, Kowatsch said.
By combining data from various sources including satellites and sensors, utilizing AI technology, remote drivers will be able to navigate and steer the vehicles effectively, he added.
Furthermore, in South Sudan about 7.7 million people face severe food insecurity compounded by challenging flooding conditions, making it the first place for the roll-out, Kowatsch said.
