What Are Drones Used for?
Drones are used for more than military and recreational purposes. In fact, UAVs can be found improving the efficiency and safety of almost every industry imaginable, from wildlife conservation to medical supply delivery.
Uses and Applications of Drones
- Military drones
- Drones for delivery
- Drones for emergency rescue
- Drones in agriculture
- Drones in outer space
- Drones for wildlife and historical conservation
- Drones in medicine
- Drones for photography
Uses of Drones
Military Drones
Probably the oldest, most well-known and controversial use of drones is in the military. The British and U.S. militaries started using very basic forms of drones in the early 1940s to spy on the Axis powers. Today’s drones are much more advanced than the UAVs of yesteryear, equipped with thermal imaging, laser range finders and even tools to perform airstrikes. One of the most prominent military drones in use today is theMQ-9 Reaper. The aircraft measures 36 feet long, can fly 50,000 feet in the air undetected and is equipped with a combination of missiles and intelligence gathering tools.
Drones for Delivery
Delivery drones are typically autonomous UAVs used to transport food, packages or goods to your front doorstep. These flying vehicles are known as “last mile” delivery drones because they are used to make deliveries from stores or warehouses close by. Retailers and grocery chains all over the country are turning to drones as a more efficient delivery alternative, instead of relying on delivery drivers with inefficient trucks. These drones can carry 55 pounds of goods to your front door without you ever having to leave the house. Amazon, Walmart, Google, FedEx, UPS and many other big brands are all testing out different versions of delivery drones.
Drones for Emergency Rescue
Sometimes it’s not safe enough to send humans into a rescue situation, due to the scope or severity of the disaster. That’s where drones come in. In the case of a capsized boat or drowning individual, officials can throw an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) into the water to assist in the rescue. If there’s an avalanche,drones are deployed to look for those caught in the snow. Aircraft maker, Kaman, has even developed a pilotless helicopter, called the K-MAX, designed to carry more than 6,000 pounds of cargo. The K-MAX has already been used in China and Australia to assist in fighting fires.
Drones in Agriculture
Drones have proven to be beneficial to the agriculture industry as well, presenting farmers with several ways to optimize their farms to maximize efficiency and reduce physical strain. Carrying out field surveys, seeding over fields, tracking livestock and estimating crop yield are all made easier through the use of UAVs while saving agriculture professionals valuable time.
Drones in Outer Space
NASA and the U.S. Air Force have been secretly testing out unmanned aircraft geared towards space travel. The X-37B UAV is the Air Force’s ultra-secretive drone that looks like a miniature space shuttle. It has been quietly circling the Earth for the last two years, setting a record for longest flight from an unmanned aircraft (781 days and counting). Although vague,the Air Force has said “the primary objectives to the X-37B are twofold: reusable spacecraft technologies for America’s future in space and operating experiments which can be returned to, and examined, on Earth.” It seems that drones have been made a priority when it comes to the future of space exploration and innovation.
Drones for Wildlife and Historical Conservation
Drones are a cheaper and more efficient alternative to wildlife conservation. Tracking wildlife populations is nearly impossible with humans on the ground. Having an eye-in-the-sky allows wildlife conservationists to track roaming groups of animals, ranging from Orangutans in Borneo to Bison on the Great Plains, to get a better idea of the health of their species and ecosystems. Conservation drones also make perfect tools in the fight against poaching efforts in Asia and Africa.
Drones are also being used for reforestation efforts all over the world. These drones scour the forest floors of forests decimated by fires and drop seed vessels filled with seeds, fertilizers and nutrients that will help a tree rise from the ashes. There have been around 300 million acres of deforested land since the early 1990s. What would take humans around 300 years to reforest can be more efficiently completed via seed-planting drone technology.
Finally, UAVs are becoming instrumental in historical conservation efforts. Drones are being used to map out 3D renderings of historical sites like Chernobyl, the ancient Greek sites of Ephesus, Turkey andJewish cemeteries all over Europe. The vantage point gives historical preservationists the ability to find clues about culture and architecture while using 3D imagery to recreate lost sites.
Related ReadingDrones Help Researchers Manage Koala Populations
Drones in Medicine
How do you get medical supplies to people in hard-to-reach areas? What tool could you use to deliver organs for transplant patients? Drones are the answer to both of those questions. Right now, unmanned aerial vehicles are being used to deliver emergency medical supplies and cargo tooff-the-grid communities in rural Alaska. Instead of relying on dog sleds, snowmobiles or ambulances that can’t handle snow, Alaskans are relying on drones to quickly receive life-saving medical supplies.
Drones are also being tapped to deliver donated organs to transplant patients. Just recently, history was made when a kidney was transported by a specially-made drone from one hospital in Maryland to the next in just under five minutes. This could cut down on the alarmingly slow rate at which donations usually arrive (if they arrive at all). Usually, organs are delivered via chartered or commercial flights. Delays and lapses in judgment cause dangerous delays of two hours or more for4 percent of all organ deliveries. Drones can cut time down tremendously while offering a safer and secure method of organ transportation.
Drones for 3D Modeling
LiDAR drones come outfitted with LiDAR sensors, which survey landscapes and compile in-depth data that can be used to build 3D models. Drones equipped with LiDAR can present far more accurate data than drones without the technology. Besides making it easier to navigate various surfaces, LiDAR enables drones to spot targets in search and rescue missions, evaluate crops in agriculture and more.
Drones for Photography
Drones have been a boon for photographers who use UAVs to take expansive aerial photos. Ever wonder what it’s like to get a bird’s eye view of your favorite city, beach or building? There are drones made specifically for photography that provide a new way to photograph some of your favorite destinations from above.
Do You Need a License to Fly a Drone?
Up until 2016, commercial businesses that utilized drone technology were required to possess a pilot’s license regardless of their industry. However, new government regulations have come into play that require those piloting drones for commercial purposes to earn a Remote Pilot Certificate by taking an aeronautical knowledge test. The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, with topics including regulations to Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) rating privileges, limitations and flight operation, effects of weather on UAS performance, emergency procedures, airport regulations, decision making, maintenance and more. To be eligible to take the exam, one must be at least 16 years old, be able to read, understand, speak and write English, and be in good enough physical and mental condition to fly a drone.
