Over the past decade, drones have been increasingly relied upon in a growing number of strategic theaters by the United States as well as by other countries. The lethal use of drones is not well understood and evokes a backlash due to secrecy, primarily with regard to their use as a counter-terrorism tool, used for targeted killings that have led to the deaths of innocent civilians. Commercial use of drones, which is also growing in popularity, is also often viewed skeptically and, for many, raises concerns of a loss of privacy and dangers to safety.
Yet, despite suspicion and concern over drone technology, commercial applications continue to rise, and the rapid technology innovation opens significant opportunities across a variety of sectors. Non-military uses of drones are vast and the commercial market for drones is already driving innovation, both in the United States and abroad. Commercial drones are used in an array of applications, ranging from pipeline monitoring, cell tower inspections and damage assessment, to real estate photography, movie filming, and even expedited package delivery. To date, in the United States alone, the FAA has granted more than 975 companies permission to use commercial drones – with many being used for real estate, photography and filming, as well as agriculture and manufacturing. And while drones are most recognized in the aerial sphere, there is increasing research and development of unmanned ground and underwater systems. These current and future uses and applications mean there is a market for commercial research and development that far outpaces those restricted to military applications.
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