Kathmandu

A Chinese technology company created history in April by making the first successful drone delivery on the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest. Drone maker DJI revealed Wednesday (Jun 5) that it transported cargo from base camp to the top at an altitude above 6,000 metres using its FlyCart 30 drone. During the test flight, it carried 15kg of oxygen cylinders and other supplies to Camp 1, located 1,700 metres above the base camp. During the return flight, the drone carried waste of the same weight. The company said the drone still had 43 per cent battery power remaining after making the full trip and it braved sub-zero temperatures and strong winds during the test flight.

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Christina Zhang, DJI’s senior corporate strategy director, in a company release, said, “The ability to safely transport equipment, supplies and waste by drone has the potential to revolutionise Everest mountaineering logistics, facilitate trash clean-up efforts, and improve safety for all involved.”

Why is it significant?

Flying drones, or any aircraft for that matter, becomes difficult at higher altitudes because of thinner air and lower air pressure. These conditions also severely limit the amount of payload a drone can carry.

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Following the successful test of the Chinese drone, the Nepalese government has launched a drone transport project to clean up the trekking path of the world's tallest summit.

Everest turning into 'garbage dump'

Mt Everest is visited by thousands of climbers every year. Last year, a total of 6,600 climbers made it to the top and each of them left an estimated 8kg of waste (average) on their way up and down. According to DJI, this has turned Everest into the “world’s highest garbage dump”.

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Also read: China builds world`s first dedicated drone carrier, but it`s shrouded in mystery: Report

The company added that an estimated 140 tonnes of waste have accumulated on the mountain over the past seven decades. This waste includes empty oxygen bottles, abandoned tents and food packaging.

Why drones?

The reason why drones are required in cleanliness operations is that local guides must cross the Khumbu Icefall, an unstable river of ice that is one of the most difficult sections of the mountain, to carry waste from Camp 1 to the base camp.

Also read: NATO countries plan to create protective ‘drone wall’ along Russian border

Some local guides even end up losing their lives here.

“Last year I lost three Sherpas. If we are not lucky, if our time is not right, we lose our life there,” DJI quoted a mountain guide as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)