Drones offer many benefits; but raise concerns about privacy, security and safety

During the pandemic, there was an urgency about finding new ways to access goods and services and provide these to people around the world.
For instance, in Ghana, drones delivered 13% of the country’s initial shipment of Covid-19 vaccine in a matter of few days!
In the United States, the Alphabet-owned drone delivery company ‘Wing’ saw demand for its services double as people looked for contactless ways to get access to consumer goods.
According to the World Economic Forum, drones have been touted as a technology that will feature prominently in the fourth industrial revolution. Apart from the military aspect of the technology, they are being used by recreationists and commercial businesses.
Governments around the world have clearly demonstrated interest in helping this industry to expand its operations, which can access hitherto inaccessible places. Technology has made drones more accessible and affordable for consumers and businesses.
No wonder, many countries are granting more approvals under current frameworks, and also adopting more comprehensive frameworks to enable larger scale drone operations.
Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are aircraft that can fly without a pilot on board. They are controlled remotely or autonomously through a computer programme. Drones come in a variety of sizes and shapes, ranging from small handheld devices to large aircraft that can carry heavy payloads.
These can be used for a wide range of purposes, including aerial photography and videography, surveying land and crops, monitoring wildlife, delivering packages, conducting search and rescue operations, and providing real-time data for disaster management. They are also used by the military for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes.
They typically have multiple rotors and are powered by rechargeable batteries. Many drones are equipped with cameras and sensors that allow them to capture high-quality images and collect data.
Due to the many different types of drones, applications, and markets involved, the total value of the global drone industry is difficult to be estimated precisely.
However, a report noted the global drone market size was valued at $22.5bn in 2020 and is projected to reach $87.5bn by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.3% during the forecast period.
This growth is driven by the increasing demand for drones in various applications such as military and defence, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, surveying and mapping, photography and videography, and delivery services.
The increasing adoption of drones in commercial applications and the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision are also contributing to the growth of the industry.
North America is currently the largest market for drones, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period, driven by the increasing demand for drones in China and India.
The global drone industry is expected to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years, driven by technological advancements and the increasing adoption of drones in various industries and applications.
That said, many countries including the US, UK, Australia, Canada and France have imposed restrictions on rogue drones to protect public safety and security.
While drones offer many benefits, they also raise concerns about privacy, security, and safety. Governments around the world have introduced regulations to address these concerns and ensure that drones are used safely and responsibly.
In the US, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates the use of drones and have imposed restrictions on them near airports, government buildings, and other sensitive locations. Drone pilots are required to register their drones and follow specific guidelines to operate them safely.
In other countries, there are also restrictions on the size and weight of drones that can be flown without permission and the locations they can be operated. Some countries insist that drones must also be registered and marked with the owner's contact information.
An industry research earlier revealed that UAVs can actually be much more damaging to aircraft than birds at the same impact speed, even if they are of similar weight.
The study, published by the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, a think-tank, used computer simulations to examine the impact of bird and UAV collisions in more than 180 scenarios.
The researchers found that the drones’ rigid and dense materials — such as metal, plastic and lithium batteries — can put aeroplanes at much greater risk than a bird carcass.
A researcher said that in every collision scenario (with a drone) there was at least minor damage to the plane and sometimes it was much more severe.
In one case, the researchers discovered that if a drone were to hit an aircraft’s fan blades when it is operating at its highest speed, the blades could shatter and snap power to the engine.
According to industry experts, the law that is generally accepted is that it is illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary and flying above 400ft (120m), which increases the risk of a collision with a manned aircraft – is also banned.
The vulnerability of most airports is all too apparent when it comes to rogue drones, and therefore only tougher laws can deter unprincipled operators of such unmanned aerial vehicles.
Undoubtedly, drones flown by untrained, unlicensed personnel are a real and growing threat to civilian aircraft.
Therefore, experts have called for drone regulations to be put in place before any serious accidents occur.

Pratap John is Business Editor at Gulf Times. Twitter handle: @PratapJohn