In a significant development, AI-powered robotic vehicles are poised to deliver food parcels to conflict and disaster zones as early as next year. This groundbreaking initiative aims to protect the lives of humanitarian workers, according to a World Food Programme (WFP) official who spoke with Reuters.
The number of attacks against aid workers has escalated in recent years, coinciding with the highest levels of violent conflicts since World War Two, as reported by the United Nations. Earlier this year, the WFP, the UN’s food aid agency, tragically lost three workers in Sudan’s conflict.
Bernhard Kowatsch, head of the WFP’s innovation department, emphasized the potential of utilizing AI technology in dangerous situations where it is too risky to deploy drivers or WFP staff. Implementing this technology could be a significant advancement, he stated.
Kowatsch made these remarks during a conference organized by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva, which aimed to advocate for the use of AI in achieving the UN’s global goals, including the eradication of hunger.
The amphibious trucks, capable of carrying around 1-2 tonnes of food each, were initially conceived during the battle for Syria’s Aleppo between 2012 and 2016. Humanitarian workers faced immense challenges in delivering aid to the besieged areas of the city, prompting the need for innovative solutions.
Air drops were found to be expensive and required large spaces that were not readily available in that particular part of Syria, Kowatsch explained.
Although the UN agency currently utilizes approximately 50 of these vehicles in South Sudan, they still require human drivers. However, under the AHEAD (Autonomous Humanitarian Emergency Aid Devices) project in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), WFP plans to conduct driverless tests early next year, Kowatsch revealed.
AI technology will be leveraged to integrate data collected from various sources, including satellites and sensors. This integration will enable remote drivers to control the vehicles effectively.
South Sudan, where around 7.7 million people are grappling with severe food insecurity, will be the first location for the roll-out of these autonomous vehicles, Kowatsch confirmed. The region’s challenges, including flooding that hampers access, make it an ideal testing ground for this transformative endeavor.
