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Here's how drones are going to completely take over the skies

Paul Szoldra, pzdupe1, and pzdupe2

2015-12-08T20:03:00Z

predator gulf weapons

The US military has invested heavily in drone technology over the past decade, but unmanned aircraft have plenty of uses beyond the battlefield.

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Once the FAA finalizes its regulations for unmanned aerial systems — more commonly referred to as drones — the industry has the potential to create more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs and bring an overall economic benefit of $82 billion.

Just how useful can drones be?

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When you think of drones, you might visualize military versions flying over Iraq and Afghanistan watching and occasionally vaporizing terrorists.

US Air Force 2014 predator drones — An MQ-1B Predator, left, and an MQ-9 Reaper taxi to the runway in preparation for takeoff June 13, 2014, on Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The aircraft are assigned to the 432nd Wing, which trains pilots, sensor operators and other remotely piloted aircraft crewmembers, and conducts combat surveillance and attack operations worldwide. Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen/USAF

US military spending on drones is now 10 times larger than it was in 2000, and the trend is destined to continue.

Global Hawk

Source: Merrill Lynch

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Especially since many countries are instituting their own drone programs. About 90 countries operate drones, 30 of which are weaponized.

countries with armed uavs

Source: Merrill Lynch

But the commercial drone market is not too far behind.

drone — An Aeronavics drone sits in a paddock near the town of Raglan, New Zealand Reuters/Reuters Staff

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Just like the military, companies are finding drone aircraft to be just as effective as regular aircraft. The big difference: drones are much easier to use and a lot cheaper.

UAV controls

Currently, precision agriculture and public safety make up 90% of the civilian market for drones, according to a 2013 economic impact report.

farming united states — Farmworkers pick strawberries at a farm in the town of San Quintin, Baja California March 25, 2015. REUTERS/Rafael Blancas

Source: AUVSI

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Plenty of farmers have embraced drones, which can fly over fields and report back on farm yields, track plant disease, and even chase off animals that damage their crops.

farmer crop yields

And there's a pretty obvious use case for drones in public safety. They can be outfitted with high-resolution cameras or thermal imaging for search and rescue ...

infrared boston bombing

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... At a fraction of the cost of a helicopter. So the next time you see a high-speed police pursuit on TV, it might be coming from an unmanned aircraft.

Police helicopter NYPD

There are many other uses for civilian drones — an industry that could generate upwards of $82 billion in the next decade.

Praetorian drone smart home

Source: AUVSI

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Though Amazon's much talked-about drone delivery service still has plenty of regulatory hurdles to overcome ...

amazon prime air drone

... There have been nearly 2,500 petitions granted by the FAA for drones to be flown commercially.

FAA messaging — An air traffic controller labors in the tower at Newark Liberty International Airport, Thursday, May 21, 2015, in Newark, N.J. AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Source: FAA

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In order to get the FAA's green light, companies need to operate drones during daytime, in sight of the operator, and under 500 feet.

A drone racer uses goggles to get a first person view of what his drone sees. — A drone racer uses goggles to get a first person view of what his drone sees. Youtube / BBC Click

Source: Fortune

Many drones have been approved for photography and filming. They can produce stunning aerial shots like this one, taken in Croatia's Brijuni National Park.

drone photo

Source: BI

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North Carolina-based Limitless Media Productions is using drones to monitor and inspect oil and gas infrastructure, mines, and wind towers.

wind turbine sunset

Source: FAA

And Maryland-based VinShadow Group asked for permission to fly drones over commercial real estate and construction sites, which makes overseeing building a lot easier.

Dronebase construction — Construction companies use DroneBase's services to inspect work sites. Facebook/DroneBase

Source: FAA

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NBC Universal got approved in November to operate DJI Quad-Copters for news gathering and closed-set filming.

DJI drone — A Phantom drone by DJI company, equipped with a camera, flies during the 4th Intergalactic Meeting of Phantom's Pilots (MIPP) in an open secure area in the Bois de Boulogne, western Paris, March 16, 2014. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Source: FAA

While the University of South Dakota wants to use drones to survey wildlife and forestry, conduct archaeological studies, and monitor climate.

Climate change, rocky mountains

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Drones can even be used by insurance companies to assess claims of damage after natural disasters.

Drone footage south carolina flooding — Drone footage from a community of homes in Columbia, South Carolina after historic flooding. Beau Chappell/ActionNewsJax

And they make it much easier for local governments to keep an eye on roadways, power lines, and water supplies.

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Clearly, there are plenty of benefits to having drones in a variety of industries.

Amanda with UAV wide.JPG — Marine researcher Amanda Hodgson holds an aerial drone. Neil Smith, Insitu Pacific Ltd.

Though easy access to drones has a downside, as highlighted by the crashes that have happened everywhere from sports stadiums to the White House lawn.

White House — 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue AP

Source: Star-Telegram / NBC News

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Once the FAA finalizes its regulations, it expects as many as 7,500 commercial drones in the air by 2018.

Black Hornet drone — The U.S. Military is testing a minature drone that weighs only 18 grams. Prox Dynamics

Source: FAA

The skies are going to be crowded, but drones will ultimately be beneficial to the economy — to the tune of billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs ...

air traffic

Source: AUVSI

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... And surely there are interesting uses for drones that we haven't even imagined.

Visitors are served by an Infinium-Serve Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that is designed to serve food and wait tables, at the National Productivity Month exhibition in Singapore, in this October 7, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Edgar Su/Files — File photo of visitors served by an Infinium-Serve Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that is designed to serve food and wait tables, at the National Productivity Month exhibition in Singapore Thomson Reuters

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