FEATURE


spreading wealth to the regions. In this single area alone, the benefits that drones bring are compelling. In addition, with the recent UK Government announcement


that we will have driverless cars on our roads by 2021, this reality is gaining momentum and will have a widespread positive impact on every one of us. Whether you call them autonomous vehicles, surface drones


or unmanned ground vehicles, full adoption of drone technology by the automotive industry will be the revolutionary step that the world is waiting for. There are of course many challenges ahead, from the levels


of intelligence required to make a passenger-carrying drone vehicle safe for use at speed, to the liability in the case of an accident. However the economic and safety arguments for the full adoption of passenger-carrying drone vehicles on our roads are overwhelming. •


In infrastructure and construction, drones are already significantly reducing the time and resources needed to plan and build our roads and buildings, making the progress faster, safer and much more cost effective. Indeed drones are shaping plans for new smart cities for which the use of these technologies will be part of the fabric of life.


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In agriculture, drones will use advanced scanning technology to detect crop disease before it is visible to the human eye and assist in the intelligent use of pesticides, thus dramatically reducing our exposure to them and increasing crop yields.


• In medicine, drones are already being trailed which are able to attend the scene of an accident within minutes to scan the area in 3D, feed this information to the emergency services to assist with access and pre-attendance assessment, and then land with medical supplies.


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In the marine environment, Remotely Operated Vehicles or Unmanned Underwater Vehicles have been used extensively in the inspection and repair of pipelines and oil rigs for many years. Indeed this sector is very well established in many respects as a standalone industry, and is often neglected when calculating the growth of the drone market. As the range of applications for drones in the marine environment expands into exploration, environmental monitoring and intervention, the value to the industry is rapidly increasing. This is definitely a sector to watch as technologies create opportunities for businesses and investors.


“There are many other examples from the use of drones in


mining when new resources become available which were previously inaccessible; in defence as new technology enables


us to meet threats without risking the lives of our soldiers, and in security of everything from oil pipelines to individuals and many more.


“The keys to growth for this exciting young industry are: •


First we need to educate the public on the positive impact that this technology will have on their lives, and not sow the kind of fear that preceded the introduction of the automobile which led to people having to walk in front of a car waving a red flag!


• We need investors to get behind the research and development which will enable the industry to break through the barriers it faces such as ‘operations beyond visual line of sight’, the integration of airspace, and the adoption of multi environment systems (from air to land to sea and beyond).


• And finally we need governments worldwide to stand firmly behind the drone industry to ensure that it is not choked by over regulation… thankfully something the UK Government has indicated it is keen to avoid… and to work together to find effective ways to promote responsible use, without stifling a great new sector which has the potential to make such an important contribution to the wellbeing of people and businesses throughout the world.”


• “The potential for the drone industry worldwide is huge, and particularly for the UK economy where the combination of our intellectual capital – our technology, engineering, innovation, governance, and above all, our development and support of high standards – is world class.”


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