Will these drones change our lives forever?
The age of the drone has dawned
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Drones are no longer just the preserve of the military, geeky hobbyists, and aerial photographers: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have landed in the mainstream. This technology has the potential to make our lives easier – and even save them should disaster strike. From making deliveries to teaching children in schools, read on as we take a look at the awesome non-military applications of drones and explore the hurdles they'll need to overcome to take over the world.
Battery problems
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One of the biggest challenges when it comes to the mass deployment of UAVs is the fact that drones will need charging while in the air. Several companies are working on in-flight charging technology, but it could be some time yet before it's effective (and economical) enough to be implemented widely.
Regulatory issues
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Regulatory waivers
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Safety concerns
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Google X Project Wing
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Passenger drones
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Dubai's Civil Aviation Authority has also had mixed success with drones. Back in 2017, permission was granted for a dedicated drone taxi service which launched in the emirate that July. Using a touchscreen, commuters and tourists were able to choose from a selection of pre-set destinations. Once they'd selected their destination, the taxi drone, piloted and monitored from a remote command center, would ake off and fly them there in next to no time. In theory.
The service was a collaboration between Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority and Chinese drone firm Beijing Yi-Hang Creation Science & Technology Co. However, it's unclear whether these taxis were ever rolled out widely.
Uber Elevate
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Hot on Dubai's heels, Uber has also been working on its very own drone passenger service called Uber Elevate since 2017. The taxi giant, which hired one of Nasa's top engineers to head the project, originally expected its flying cabs to be ready in three years' time, with the service up and running within a decade.
Beating the traffic and then some, passenger drones have the potential to slash journey times. Uber predicted that an arduous two-hour and 12-minute car journey will take just 15 minutes in one of its flying taxis. In 2020, however, Uber Elevate was acquired by American aerospace company Joby Aviation – and its line of vehicles is still very much in the works.
Amazon Prime Air
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With its Prime Air drone delivery service, Amazon has arguably had more success than Google or Uber. The service will deliver certain goods within 30 minutes of a customer placing an order, providing they live within 10 miles of a participating Amazon fulfillment centre. In both the UK and US the drones have been tested under a waiver program, and operations are reportedly scheduled to begin in Lockeford, California later this year.
Medicine delivery drones
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Medicine delivery drones are already in service. In 2015, the FAA granted a waiver to a special program called 'Let's Fly Wisely', which uses drones to deliver medicine to hard-to-reach clinics in Virginia. These 'ambulance drones' have the potential to save lives, delivering urgently-needed medication in the nick of time to places that could be difficult for vehicles to reach. And they're only getting more popular; according to estimates from Future Market Insights, Inc, the medical drone market is expected to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.3% through next year.
US mail delivery drones
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We can all look forward to having our mail delivered by drones too. In the US, USPS has tested HorseFly drones, DHL has been working on a so-called 'Pacelcopter', and FedEx has been carrying out extensive UAV feasibility studies. But where exactly will these drones deliver your mail?
Drone-compatible mailboxes
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Earlier this week on Fox & Friends, 'the world's first smart mailbox' was revealed to audiences by the founder of Dronedek, an Indiana-based company that's developing a mailbox specifically to receive drone deliveries. The mailbox will be climate controlled to make it suitable for storing medicines or hot food. It will also have the technology to scan for suspicious packages and autonomously call emergency services if necessary. Pictured is the inaugural USPS delivery to a Dronedek mailbox in Lawrence, Indiana on 9 August this year.
Mail delivery drones elsewhere
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Fast food delivery drones
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Fast food firms are embracing the technology in their droves. Chipotle has teamed up with Google to test a burrito delivery drone at the Virginia Tech campus, Domino's Pizza has trialed the 'DomiCopter' in the UK and is already using drones to deliver pizzas in New Zealand, and UK company Deliveroo is looking into using similar drone technology. This year, fast food chain KFC announced that it was partnering with drone freight company Wing to make deliveries in Queensland, Australia, while food and retail delivery company Flytrex has just received FAA approval to expand its drone radius.
Meals on wings
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Waiter drones
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Search and rescue drones
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Life-saving passenger drones
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Firefighting drones
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Drones also save lives by helping firefighters tackle blazes and locate missing people and animals. US drone firms Workswell and FLIR Systems make infrared camera UAVs that can detect hot spots and pinpoint casualties. Elsewhere, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in the UK uses similar technology.
According to Canadian news outlet Lethbridge News, drones were also used earlier this month to tackle wildfires in Penticton, British Columbia. Drone technology was reportedly used to map hot spots and scan the edges of a blaze to ensure it's been fully extinguished.
Inspection drones
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Farming drones
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Bird control drones
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Conservation drones
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Drone journalism
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Do you work as a journalist? A drone could be after your job. Capturing footage from warzones, Chernobyl, and the aftermath of natural disasters, drones can travel to areas that would be unsafe for humans. There's even a professional Society of Drone Journalists, though the use of drones in reporting has raised ethical questions about privacy and press freedom. .
Educational drones
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Entertainment drones
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Drone racing has really taken off as a spectator sport. In 2017, European insurer Allianz entered into a five-year sponsorship deal with the New York-based Drone Racing League, and drones are also providing entertainment in the form of spectacular synchronised formation shows. Lady Gaga's Super Bowl halftime performance featured hundreds of light-emitting UAVs in February 2017, while the opening ceremony for Beijing Winter Olympics earlier this year used more than 1,800 drones to illuminate the sky above the park in Chengdu.
Drone home security and surveillance
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