Drone Tech Innovation: The Sky is The Limit

What Are Drones Exactly?

Drones, formally known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are essentially flying robots that can be controlled remotely or fly autonomously through software running on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. They are quite sophisticated devices, which consist of an array of sensors on-board and even a global positioning system (GPS).

The United Kingdom and the USA had first developed such pilotless vehicles during World War 1. The UK's small radio-controlled drone was first tested in March 1917 while the USA’s aerial torpedo first took flight in October 1918. Neither of these devices was operationalized during the war, even though they showed immense promise in their uses.

During this era and the years that followed after, the development and testing of such UAVs continued, when in 1935 the UK produced multiple RC aircraft for target training. Around this time, the word “drone” was getting popularised and was used as a general name for these wondrous devices.

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?Usecases of Drone Technology

1. Military Reconnaissance

Drone technology was first used by military agencies across the globe, to gather crucial enemy intelligence on the battlefield. The use of this technology now has transcended beyond wartimes. Even today, in relatively peaceful times, UAVs are used to gather crucial information related to the national security of a country. With advancements in its efficiency, powerful drones and even relatively smaller quadcopters are flying around the world, equipped with very powerful imaging tools and? technology to conduct reconnaissance missions and provide real-time military intelligence.

2. Shipping & Delivery

In the space of delivery modes, drone usage is still quite new in its applications. Big names in the industry such as Amazon and DHL are enabling drone usage to fasten delivery solutions and offer better services to customers. While usage of drones is one of the key aspects, Amazon is taking it up a notch by integrating AI intelligence systems to ensure same-day delivery services to its customers.

3. Healthcare

Drones, coupled with robotic integrations, can allow the delivery of critical medical supplies to previously less accessible areas, without direct human involvement. Drones may also be used to deliver medications and vaccines faster in smaller batches rather than a centralised delivery system, especially since vaccines require to be stored at low temperatures and need to be safe from sunlight exposure. The benefits would be fruitful to specific groups of people, such as patients in a nursing home who must have minimum exposure to unsuitable environments. Soon, we may even witness ambulance drones, which can transport people straight to a hospital from the site of an accident.

4. Agriculture & Livestock

Drones offer farmers effective and affordable methods to monitor their crops. Crop health can be tracked and monitored with infrared-equipped drones, giving farmers reliable information immediately, to take precautionary measures to improve crop yields. Drone technology is estimated to cover 80% of the agriculture industry around the world in the coming decades. Livestock too can be managed and tracked using drones. Through AI and Machine Learning integrations, livestock behaviour, health, and movements can be tracked and recorded to give near-instantaneous notifications to farmers when any issues arise.

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Pandemic-led Transformation in Adoption of Drones

The effects of the pandemic haven’t financially hurt the drone industry, but quite the contrary, it seems to have helped it as many big organisations have entered the drone market. During the pandemic, drone sales for both business and recreational use have more than doubled. Major industries which have adopted drone solutions include agriculture, region mapping, military, and recreation. Going by the current trend, the global drone market is predicted to hit $6.15 billion by 2023.

However, the pandemic has complicated the drone industry’s efforts to unstigmatized itself from the association of the power of authority. Over the last few years, drones with imaging technology have proven to be invaluable in multiple facets such as disaster response, transportation planning, and so on.

While drone technology has received quite a positive outlook from media outlets that showcased how drones helped fight the pandemic through non-contact forms of solutions such as medicine delivery and automated disinfection, they have also been overshadowed by the negative news where drones were used to strictly enforce lockdowns and to intimidate any protestors.

The use of drones by various governments to enforce strict policies during the COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately tarnished the reputation of drones, in certain circles, as a tool of oppression. However, considering all the negative backlash, the world’s overall views on drones do not seem to have wavered and the outlook for the future of drone technology seems to be on the right track.

Drone Programs in India

1. India Post Pilot Program

The Indian Postal Department launched a program to showcase its first drone delivery in Kutch, Gujarat. The drone was manufactured by Gurugram-based drone logistics startup, TechEagle. The delivery was hailed to be the longest single-flight drone delivery, which was done in harsh weather conditions where wind speeds of more than 31km per hour were recorded. TechEagle has launched a hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone called the ‘VertiplaceX3’, which has a payload capacity of 3Kgs, top speed of 120 km per hour, and a maximum range of 100km. Leveraging this product, the India Post company was able to successfully test its drone delivery project. Compared to the conventional methods of surface transportation, these drones helped deliver parcels at more than five times the speed.

2. Bharat Drone Mahotsav

Bharat Drone Mahotsav (2022) was a two-day event that was held with over 1600+ delegates participating, comprising government officials, foreign diplomats, armed personnel, police forces, public sector units, private companies, and multiple drone startups. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who then actively interacted with the various startups regarding the different usecases of drone technology and its potential future in the Indian economy.

With more than 70 exhibitors, various use cases of drones were showcased at the exhibition. The Mahotsav also witnessed a virtual award ceremony for drone pilot certifications. Among the other virtual events, new product launches & demonstrations, panel discussions, and a display of a drone taxi prototype under the Made in India initiative were also showcased.

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Future Outlook For Drone Technology

All kinds of technological developments have been evolving for years now, the pandemic only accelerated the process further. In the “New Normal” that we live in now, technology will only continue to transform beyond our imagination. Both people and businesses have learned to adapt and improvise during the shift in norms. They adopted new ways to do work and reoriented their behaviours. Multiple industries have also benefited from this phase of adaptation. Contactless technologies in almost every aspect, such as payments, food delivery, and healthcare have seen increased adoption and usage.

The pandemic proved to be a catalyst for the large-scale adoption of drones by all types of organisations, including multiple government agencies. Today, the applications of drone technology have surpassed that which was previously limited to governments. Particularly in India, the government has opened the economy to the drone industry. Corporates and startups are gearing up their investments in this sector, and are now breathing a sigh of relief thanks to the implementation of the new Drone Rules 2021.

With the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India updating the Drone Rules, India is anticipated to become the world’s third-largest drone market. The UAV segment is expected to grow given the current conditions such as the waiver of drone pilot licences and the launch of new drone corridors. By incentivizing local drone manufacturers, the Government of India is staying true to focusing itself on being more “Aatmanirbhar”.

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Article written by:?Sean Pinto ?@ Incubate Hub

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Incubate Hub ?is Asia's largest open innovation & corporate venturing platform to drive Digital Transformation & Sustainable solutions working with Startups, Students & Professionals. We also help Startups engage with our 52+ clients including Mondelez, Faurecia, P&G, Accenture, Tata, DCB Bank, Fidelity, ITC Infotech, IBM, NASSCOM, Analog Device, Nasscom Foundation & Quest Global