Years ago, only a few people could have imagined how much UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) would transform our technological landscape. Drones are now used by many, from toys to high-tech business applications. They are used in agriculture, military, e-commerce, health services, real estate and so much more. Due to the global adoption of drones, sales have gone up by as much as 224% since 2016. A recent PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) analysis valued the drone industry at a shocking $127 billion!

Of course, whenever there is a thriving industry, competition heats up and prices are driven lower. As the technology evolves at breakneck speed, more industries will adopt the use of drones and we expect to see more amazing drone features come to market.

The Growth of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) includes all varieties of drones and have been used since World War 1. A century later, drones are being used to fulfill different needs thanks to technological breakthroughs in software and applications.  New features such as Bluetooth, Wi-fi, collision sensors, active tracking and thermal cameras are some of the amazing features we see today. These innovative technologies are the reason why the drone industry has become commercialized.

Almost all drones sold in the United States are for consumer use, and the prices have dropped significantly. Affordable drones may not be as sophisticated as high-end ones, but they are still effective.  Drones are creating new value for many different industries. Imagine the uses of drones in just agricultural alone. They are used in planting, soil analysis, irrigation, and so much more.

Many industries are looking to take advantage of drones.  Some are being equipped with artificial intelligence to make them smarter drones.  If you think this is impossible, consider how phones went from not-smart to smartphones with many new features in just a few years.

The Possibilities are Endless…

Using drones for delivery or photography is becoming more common. Drones are making lives easier for people and businesses and our new robotic helpers make us more efficient too!  Major tech giants like NASA, Amazon, UPS, and Facebook are creating drone fleets to improve their products and services.

There have been some trial and errors — as can be expected in any fledgling industry.  The FAA is also working tirelessly to make drone use safer for everyone. As technology progress, drones will work better, go further, fly higher, and generally evolve over time.