There are not many things hotter in the technology world right now than drones. Also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), these gadgets have been propelled into the public eye in recent years for both their military capabilities and increasingly, their commercial potential.
Countries around the world are investing big bucks to develop advanced drone technologies; businesses are all over them to find ways to employ these devices in their daily operations; and average citizens are finding drones can be used for all kinds of nifty, creative projects.
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10 Fun Facts About Drones
Drones are fascinating machines with a lot of great uses, but there’s more to them than you might think. Here are 10 interesting facts about drones that might surprise you…
Drones are more popular than you might think
Over 300 thousand commercial drones are registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as of 2021.
Meanwhile, some industry experts believe more than a million consumer drones could be sold during the upcoming holiday season alone; Amazon has asked permission from U.S. regulators to test drones for future package delivery; and major companies like FedEx, Google, and Walmart are all investing heavily in drone technology that they hope to use for business purposes.
Drones are getting faster and more efficient all the time
A California-based company called Aerovironment is working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on drones designed for border patrol work that can reportedly reach speeds of 65 mph – twice as fast as most other drones.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy is working on drone boats that can travel up to 45 mph and dart back and forth more than 20 times faster than the average human swimmer.
Drones are getting smaller all the time, too
Some of today’s drones are so small they can sit on your palm or perch comfortably on an outstretched hand — like this one designed by a company called PowerVision, which uses powerful components packed into its body to allow for flight indoors without damaging things around it if it crashes:
The first ‘World Drone Prix’ was held in Dubai
With a 1 million dollar prize, the World Drone Prix might put drone racing into the public eye.
The World Drone Prix took place on March 11 2016 and has seen a massive influx of teams register for the event. The competition will be judged by experts, including those from DJI who make some amazing drones!
The contest will involve drone fliers from all over the world, battling against one another in races that reach speeds of more than 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph).
The course is 591 meters long and claims to be the world’s first race track built specifically for drone racing.
Drones are also getting more autonomous
Some drones today are already capable of completing certain tasks without any human intervention whatsoever.
For instance, NASA has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle known as Ikhana that can fly itself – and even land itself on a runway:
Some drones are already capable of swarming together in groups.
Drones aren’t always used for “surveillance” purposes
Some of them might be, like the ones the NSA uses to keep track of terrorists and other criminals; but they’re also being used by environmental scientists to monitor wildlife; news outlets like ABC News and CBS News to capture aerial footage of breaking news events; and independent filmmakers like Daniel Stindt, who has captured stunning footage of cities like New York with his drone:
Drones can make deliveries
Drone technology is becoming more and more popular, with businesses finding new ways to employ these devices every day. One of the most exciting applications for drones is in package delivery, and Amazon is at the forefront of this movement.
The company has asked permission from U.S. regulators to test drones for future package delivery, and it is believed that they could potentially use the devices to make deliveries within 30 minutes of an order being placed. This would be a massive change for the company, which is currently reliant on human drivers to make deliveries.
While there are some concerns about safety and privacy, it’s clear that drone technology has a lot of potential for the future. Amazon is not the only company exploring this avenue – FedEx, Google, and Walmart are all investing heavily in drone technology that they hope to use for business purposes.
Drones are increasingly being used for the transportation of life-saving medical equipment and medication in remote areas like Africa, where human transport would take too long.
The first drone was created by Israel
Israel used it in the Yom Kippur War in 1973, and they were responsible for making Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) a staple of the modern military.
The word drone is derived from the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle which was first introduced by US Navy in 1930. The word ‘drone’ is derived from the word ‘Drone’ which was first used in 1956.
Drones are used as farming technology
Farming remains one of the most labor-intensive industries in the world. Yet, farmers are finding that drones can drastically reduce their workloads while giving them much-needed eyes in the sky to monitor activities on the ground.
A drone is a revolutionary tool that will allow farmers to view their entire field at once, including damaged crops and those just ready for harvesting. This gives them the ability not only to optimize production but also to increase yields by checking every inch of terrain in real-time!
A pilot was almost charged for his drone crashing into the White House lawn
The drone that crashed onto the White House lawn on January 26th, 2015 was an accident according to reports. The pilot faced charges which were later dropped due in part because it can’t be determined whether he intended for this crash or not (he might have simply lost control).
