The multifaceted uses of drones are incredible!
Although the military surveillance drones market will continue to make up the most of the drone market, almost every industry can benefit from the application of drone technology in some way.
Multifaceted functions are one of the most attractive things about drones. Unlike so many other technologies, including new technologies, drones are increasingly used in unprecedented ways.
Maneuverability, Adaptability, Speed
Surveillance drones are designed as an eye—in—the—sky that surveys all kinds of sites and situations. In addition to having sophisticated cameras, they are often equipped with night vision capabilities and heat sensors, which makes evading detection very difficult.
Unlike traditional methods, this relatively new technology offers so many advantages over the ways we used to do things. Unmanned aircraft (UA) can cover large areas at a fraction of the cost of a helicopter or airplane and they can also be kept on site for rapid deployment. In addition, they have a very low noise footprint so they don’t disturb and alert those involved in various crimes.
When it comes to surveillance in general, and surveilling sites in particular, multi-rotors drones are often used more than others because they provide higher maneuverability and agility and thus can hover more easily. UAVs can provide live streaming of detailed data, follow objects or intruders from a safe distance and quickly cover a large area, but also record images that can identify whether anything might be wrong or missing. Drones have a competitive edge over stationary cameras, as intruders can’t easily step out of sight, and they can cover areas that are normally out of reach.
These flying robots are able to travel a long distance and cover a large area quickly. They also record images that can identify people and things with great detail. UAVs have found other applications in industrial plants by reducing the costs of theft, in addition to monitoring and verifying the quality of employee work.
Industries
The construction/infrastructure industry is the largest market for drones and studies show that when UAVs are used in construction sites, they increase safety by 55%.
Farmers have come to benefit greatly from these drones because of their efficiency. Drones can inspect about 1,000 acres of farmland in one day and are able to survey a 12-acre parcel of land in just two hours instead of the usual 100 hours when used by traditional methods. Such capabilities help with everything from herd maintenance and crop management to worker safety.
Studies of the real estate market shows that homes with aerial photos taken by drones sell 68% faster than properties sold by competitors.
The Endangered Species Act states that poaching is illegal and acts of poaching also includes a failure to comply with the regulations surrounding hunting without a license, hunting at illegal locations, and hunting with illegal methods. Poaching is typically related to large parks and habitats, which makes close surveillance of these areas difficult. Helicopters have been used for aerial surveillance, however, they are very costly and noisy, therefore, not a good option. A surveillance drone is the ideal solution to the problems faced by most anti-poaching methods. The fact that such drones can be equipped with cameras, thermal sensors, and “sniffers” enable them to detect poachers and hazardous gases.
Law enforcement and prison systems are using drones extensively and consistently to report improved awareness and safety since drones can also monitor areas much faster and more efficiently than correctional officers. Quick notice and response can be the difference between life and death for both officers and inmates. The combination of surveillance drones, cameras, and regular patrols are all ways that security is expertly maintained.
There is no question that drone surveillance is a great contribution to maintaining airport security. With over 100,000 flights occurring in our airports each day, more airports and similar facilities are using drones for a variety of functions as they provide an eye in places that are difficult to reach, that is, an automated presence where others cannot go. They can easily examine the state of the runways to ensure that there are no cracks, oil or ice slicks, or obstructions that would keep the plane stuck on the ground.
Most of us would not think that drones have anything to do with archeology, but archaeologists are using drones to find the most promising places to dig for artifacts. They also use thermal imaging cameras that are attached to drones to gain imagery of buried structures or foundations.
Industries such as environment, insurance, telecommunications, journalism, media, filmmaking, aerial photography, mapping, disaster management, search and rescue operations also use drones widely.
Future
Unmanned aircraft systems provide the ideal solution to the problems and limitations faced by other surveillance methods. Drone surveillance presents an easier, faster, and cheaper method of data collection, etc. Drone planes can enter narrow and confined spaces, produce minimal noise, and can be equipped with night vision cameras and thermal sensors, allowing them to provide imagery that the human eye is unable to detect.
The benefits of surveillance drones far outweigh the dangers of their misuse.
The flexibility, maneuverability, adaptability, mobility, speed, affordability and surveillance offered by drones are unparalleled.
Drones already save about 133 lives per year and the number of lives saved are expected to increase in number in the future as drones become more prominent in society.
The most significant drone markets in recent years have been infrastructure/construction industries, agriculture, transportation, and security.
Drone statistics demonstrate that UAVs remain at the forefront of cutting-edge new technologies.
There are about two million drones today in our country and the projection is that by 2022, drones will number 2.5 million. It is estimated that this industry will more than double in revenue by 2023 with an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.96%. The projected annual revenue of the drone industry is estimated to be around a market share of $82.1 billion by 2025.
Most importantly, drones save about 133 lives per year and are expected to increase in the future as drones become more prominent in society.
Soliton Blog, “Drones: An Overview of the Drone-Powered Surveillance Market” (04.28.2020)
Drones have demonstrated their incredible capabilities over a wide range of industries. Also, as technology continues to improve, so will their applications, which will continue to benefit us all, directly or indirectly.
