AN UPDATE ON DRONES

5th February 2025 | Human Nature, Tech stuff

Some years ago, September 16 2016 to be exact, I discussed the use of drones in the future of this planet, casually mentioning their military use almost as a throwaway section within the blog. Well, things have moved on at a horrifying speed since then.

So perhaps it is time to have another look at this fascinating but, on occasions, deadly technology.

Recreational Use

Some countries have strict regulations that govern recreational drones. For example, in the US, anyone flying their drone in the United States as a recreational flyer needs to pass the The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) exam and keep the certificate on their person to legally fly. Register your drone through the FAA Drone Zone before you fly if it weighs more than 55lbs (250g).

Industry Use

Drones are everywhere. Since taking the business world by storm in late 2016, the technology has quickly transformed from a luxury item, into a must-have commodity.

No doubt that drones can be used for many things to aid mankind, but, like most technical advances, laws need to keep pace.

Do I prefer congested roads to congested skies? The jury is still out.

Here are the examples that most people know about:

1. Drone Photography

The entertainment and marketing industries and much, much more.

2. Disaster Relief

Disaster relief organizations now have new methods to get relief packages into the hands of those who need them, or locate people who need help, especially in the many areas that aren’t yet safe for human travel.

3. Real Estate Marketing

Photography has always been important to the real estate industry, and drones have quickly moved into this market, much to the annoyance of near neighbors.

4. Safety inspections

Remote inspections use drones that can maneuver into hard to reach areas to gather information about the safety of structures such as bridges, buildings, dams, and other construction sites without putting a person in a dangerous situation.

5. Drone Delivery

Companies such as Amazon and UPS have experimented with delivering goods with drones as a faster, cheaper alternative to other delivery systems, and this technology eventually might make the delivery truck a thing of the past.

6. Data Gathering, Surveying, Mapping, Monitoring

Drones have also had a large impact on the data mapping industry in recent years, and will continue to change the way we survey and map land.

7. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence

In order to make drones do the work we want them to, new ways for A.I.s to learn and think are being pioneered. Currently, drone pilots can set a flight path and sit back while their drone flies itself, then process the data from the flight later on. In the not-too-distant future, drones will be able to take off, fly, gather information, then process that information all without any human intervention.

8. Monitoring Construction Progress

Construction companies now use drone services to help keep clients up to date on the progress of their work.

Military Use

For the military, drones [UAVs] soar strategically above the battlefield and beyond for use in surveillance and reconnaissance, combat support, force protection, electronic warfare, precision strikes, training and testing.

An unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), also known as a combat drone, fighter drone or battlefield UAV, is an unmanned aerial vehicle that is used for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance and carries aircraft ordnance such as missiles, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), and/or bombs in hardpoints for drone strikes. These drones are usually under real-time human control, with varying levels of autonomy.

Future Drones

Many countries now have dedicated military drone units.

Drones, or unmanned air systems, are changing the face of war in the 21st century, for combatants and civilians. For example, in the UK over the last fifteen years, an increasing number of air missions have been carried out remotely by drone.

The tasks these drones carry out include targeted assassinations, bombings and intelligence-gathering, and the forces that deploy them claim to minimize the loss of life on both sides. These drones still have operators, who can be based thousands of miles away from the field of battle, but in future they may not need operators at all. How are the risks and realities of unmanned air power changing the mindset of those that fight, those who command them, and those they target?

Unexplained sightings

We are all aware that dozens of drone sightings have been reported over New Jersey since 18 November last year, but others have been reported around the US north-east.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since issued temporary restrictions prohibiting drone flights over 22 cities including Bedminster and Picatinny until 17 January.

Sightings have also been reported in several other states:

In New York City, several drones were reported flying over the Bronx on 12 December
Stewart Airfield in New York state had to shut down for about an hour on 13 December because of drone activity
In Connecticut, police confirmed “suspicious drone activity”. A drone detection system is now in use near the towns of Groton and New London
In Maryland, former Republican Governor Larry Hogan said he saw what appeared to be “dozens” of drones over his home in Davidsonville
In Massachusetts, two men were arrested on 14 December after a “hazardous drone operation” near Logan International Airport’s airspace in Boston
Multiple sightings have been reported in eastern Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia
In October, the Wall Street Journal reported that mysterious drones were seen for 17 days near US military facilities in Virginia
In Ohio, a US Air Force base was briefly closed on 13 December after small drones were detected flying nearby. More drones were reported on 16 and 17 December, although the airbase’s operations were not impacted

In late November, drones were also spotted over three US airbases in the UK, with British defence sources telling the BBC suspicion had fallen on a “state actor”.

Drones were also reported near the Ramstein US military airbase in Germany in early December.

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Airspace around US airbases in Norfolk and Suffolk has been under scrutiny following multiple recent drone incursions. Those responsible for the aircraft have yet to be found and nearby residents have questioned how and why the incidents have been allowed to happen.

Drone incursions were initially reported at three US airbases – RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk – between 20 and 22 November, and the aircraft has since reappeared.

Innovation within the drone industry, and by companies that use drone services, will continue indefinitely. The business use-cases and value provided to them will continue to grow. Despite the massive growth of the drone industry since 2016, there is still room to grow. It’s not hard to imagine a time in the near future when drones will play a role for every business.