An Introduction to Drones

The word “drone” is a term that is more commonly used now than ever before, but what exactly is a drone and what is its purpose?

What is a Drone?

When most people hear the word drone they picture a large grey aircraft that looks similar to a small plane. This connotation came from news outlets reporting on military technology when it first emerged publicly. The first documented creation of and implementation of drone technology was in the 1930’s when a remote-controlled model airplane developed by British actor Reginald Denny and engineer Walter Righter was adopted by the military and mass-produced for surveillance purposes (Vyas, 2020).

These early remote controlled, fixed wing aircraft were called unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs), and later became used for more than just spying on enemy targets. Similar to the evolution of the technology, the terminology used also changed over time. Unmanned aerial technology continued to be exclusively used by the military for several decades, and on February 4th, 2002, the CIA released information about the first targeted killing with the use of this technology (Sifton, 2019). Today, we recognize that the word drone doesn't mean the same thing to everyone, and the term sometimes carries a negative connotation due to some of its darker history. Small drones have now become widely available in the consumer market, and people have grown accustomed to seeing toy drones fly around in malls, at parks, and other public places. Drones now have many applications that don't involve military interests.

Drones are now being used by hobbyist photographers, professional photographers, and filmmakers to capture images with ease. They have been modified for cleaning windows, inspecting hard to reach places, assisting in search and rescue missions, delivering small packages, and so much more. Drone technology is advancing at a rapid pace. Large commercial and industrial companies are pouring millions of dollars into research and development of these aerial systems with the hope to gain a competitive advantage by decreasing costs through automation (Masunaga, 2019). During this time of accelerated growth, we see new emerging uses for drones that are contributing to a more data rich world.

Drones are here to stay, and they're going to help us save lives and protect the environment by revolutionizing the way we collect and analyze data. We will take a look at how engineers and scientists can benefit from using drones with their projects and research. Without a doubt, drones are changing the way we see the world, and it is my goal to share some of the added value they offer. Continue reading our blog and you will develop a better understanding of how drones can support conservation efforts, and why they should be integrated into existing environmental monitoring workflows.

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