The Future of Drones

Although the future of drones is uncertain, recent headlines indicate mixed signals. Bloomberg reported in August that the drone craze has started to fade, with many startups going under. According to other news sources, the drone industry is poised and ready for growth. Morgan Stanley estimates that the drone sector will be worth $1.5 trillion by 2040 and over $100 billion by 2020 according to Goldman Sachs. What is the reality of this industry?

Commercial applications

There are a wide variety of commercial applications of drones, including agriculture, real estate, and media and entertainment. This growth is due to the increasing use of drones in filming and TV production. The cost-effective and convenient way to capture frames is becoming a vital part of filmmaking, and filmmakers have started to utilize professional drones for the job. A growing market for aerial photography will also drive its growth.

Safety in the airspace

Federal Aviation Administration has published a Report on Future of Drones (FAA report) and Airspace Safety. The report highlights drones' potential benefits as well the challenges that the industry faces in integrating them within existing airspace. The future capabilities of drones include the ability to automatically identify and reduce known and emerging risks. Non-recreational drone pilots must also be proficient in flight procedures and maintain visual range.

Management of air traffic

Drones are becoming more common in our skies. This is why air traffic management plays a crucial role in their success. Although thousands of manned planes currently fly in the sky at any given time, this number will increase as drones become more widespread. Air traffic management can't be scaled to cope with the increased number of unmanned planes. The future of drone traffic control depends on integrating several solutions.

Forecasting air traffic

Drones can already fly in the low-levels of the atmosphere. But forecasting of weather conditions may make them more effective. This information could be used in improving weather alert systems or to deliver packages. Drones may also improve weather forecasts, alert systems for severe storms, and other weather information. Currently, air traffic forecasting is only two-dimensional. The drones' weather data can vastly improve airspace intelligence.

Air traffic control

Future of Drones and Air Traffic Control. Future of air traffic control relies on hovering warehouses and flying cars. The advent of drone technology will mean that authorities will need to create a low-altitude air traffic management system. It could be hundreds of times more complicated than current systems for air traffic controllers for airplanes. Drones would use artificial Intelligence and machine learning in order to avoid other planes, and stay within designated air lanes.

FAQ

Which drone is best for beginners?

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ beginner drone is very popular today. This model is equipped with a 4K cam, which allows for high-quality aerial photos as well as videos. This drone is easy to navigate thanks to its GPS system.

Is it possible to buy a drone from overseas?

Many drones can be purchased online. Some people prefer to buy drones online via Amazon, eBay and Walmart. Others prefer to purchase their drones directly at the manufacturer.

What type of batteries should a drone be using?

Most drones use lithium-ion batteries. A typical drone consumes between 3 and 6.

Statistics

• Research and Markets predict a growth rate of 51.1% over the next five years. (thedroneu.com)
• According to industry research from ZipRecruiter , there are 10 cities where the typical salary for a Drone Pilot job is above the national average. (dronesgator.com)
• According to ZipRecruiter, the minimum hourly wage of drone pilots is $20. (thedroneu.com)

External Links

nps.gov

• GGNRA is a No Drone Zone - Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)
• Unmanned Aircraft in the National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)

dronepilotgroundschool.com

• LAANC: In just minutes, get your drone flight approval
• FAA issues final rulings on remote ID, flying at night and flying over people and moving vehicles - Drone Pilot Groundschool

iacra.faa.gov

• IACRA - Federal Aviation Administration

parks.ca.gov

• California State Parks

How To

How to Fly Drones for Beginners

A drone can be used to fly remotely controlled aircraft for photography, surveillance, scientific research, hobby and commercial purposes. Drone technology has existed since World War II. DJI introduced their Phantom series of quadcopters in 2010, but commercial use only began in 2010. From beginner-friendly drones such as Parrot AR Drone 2.0 through professional-grade multirotor craft like DJI Mavic Pro, many types have been available.

There are many options for flying a drone.

1. Remote control – This is when you attach a device to your hand that allows you to control the drone's flight path. There are two main types of controllers: On/Off switches (like a radio) and joysticks.
2. Manual Control – This allows remote operation of the drone via GPS coordinates using a smartphone application. You will need to keep track of where the drone is going and follow the directions from the app.
3. Autonomous flight - The drone takes over the piloting duties. It basically flies autonomously without any human intervention. For the autonomous flight to occur, the drone must have a built-in camera and sensors capable of capturing images and data.
4. Triggered Flight - This method is similar to manual control, except the pilot manually sets up a preprogrammed route, and the drone follows that route until it reaches the endpoint. Once the programmed route is completed, the drone lands automatically and returns back to the base.
5. Landing Gear - Some drones come equipped with landing gear that allows them to land safely if they lose power or run out of battery during flight.
6. Goggles - Pilots may wear goggles to shield themselves from flying debris.
7. Camera – Some drones have cameras, which allow you to take photos or videos from up high.
8. Obstacles. Some drones can have obstacle avoidance technology that stops them from hitting obstacles.
9. Speed - Drones can reach speeds up to 40 mph.
10. Battery Life - Most drones last between 20 and 3 hours depending on how much power they have.
11. Range - Depending on the model, some drones can travel up to 30 miles away.
12. Power source: Some drones will require an external power source while others can be powered by internal batteries.
13. Weight - Some drones are lighter than others, while some models can weigh as much as 4 pounds.
14. Size - Drones come in many sizes, from small gadgets that fit in one's hands to large craft that weigh more than 50 lbs.
15. Price - High-end drones can go for thousands of dollars, while low-cost models start at $100.