Kazan Tests Autonomous Snow-Clearing Drones for Municipal Services
Ground-based drones are being deployed in residential courtyards as part of a pilot project aimed at easing pressure on city коммунальные службы.
Kazan has begun testing unmanned ground vehicles designed to help clear snow from residential courtyards and support municipal services. The trials are taking place under winter conditions in apartment complexes across the city.
The project features a tandem system of two machines. The first uses a bucket to push snow into piles, while the second is equipped with an auger mechanism that grinds the snow and throws it aside.
The machines can operate independently or together, creating a continuous cleaning cycle. According to city officials, the vehicles can function autonomously for up to eight hours. They are controlled remotely.
Drones Tackle Labor Shortages
Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin said the unmanned systems could reduce heavy manual labor and help address staffing shortages in the municipal services sector. A pair of such machines, he said, could potentially replace the work of several dozen custodial workers. The idea emerged after city officials reviewed technologies developed by local drone manufacturers, who adapted their systems for urban needs.
For now, the trials are being conducted as a pilot program. Property management companies are gathering feedback from maintenance crews and residents so manufacturers can refine the machines based on practical experience. The workload on municipal services is particularly high during periods of heavy snowfall or rain, and staffing shortages remain acute. Officials say the search for new technological solutions has become a practical necessity.
A Joystick Instead of a Shovel
Digital technologies are steadily becoming part of urban life. For younger specialists, operating machinery with a joystick may be far more appealing than wielding a shovel. For the city, the shift offers a way to make courtyard maintenance faster and more efficient in any weather.
