Unmanned aerial vehicle UAV (drone)

Aviation experts distinguish three main types of aircraft, except for military missiles that fly without on-board pilots:

• Remotely controlled;
• Programmed and operating under the control of navigation systems;
• Designed with flight restrictions imposed and flying in a repetitive manner.

For the first time, the civilian use of drones was announced by Amazon for the delivery of consumer goods in 2013. After that, the market began to develop rapidly, opening up new areas of commercial and private use. In addition to the manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) themselves, distribution companies of such devices, manufacturers of components, optics and computer vision systems, software, mapping services and aerial photography companies, the agricultural sector, a wide range of government services (police, ambulance, fire, emergency services), insurance and investment companies and others are showing interest in the topic [^[1]

Drone classification

By size

Unmanned aerial vehicles are difficult to classify, as they have very different characteristics. This variety comes from the abundance of configurations and components. UAV Manufacturers are not yet limited to any standards. As a result, there are no requirements from aviation regulators today on how the UAV should be equipped.

The drones resemble a helicopter with 4 blades. They differ in size, functionality, flight range, level of autonomy and other characteristics.

Conditionally, all drones can be divided into 4 groups:

• Micro. Such UAVs weigh less than 10 kg, the maximum time in the air is 60 minutes. Flight altitude - 1 kilometer.
• Mini. The weight of these devices reaches 50 kg, the time spent in the air reaches 5 hours. The flight altitude varies from 3 to 5 kilometers.
• Midi. Unmanned aerial vehicles weighing up to 1 tons are designed for 15 hours of flight. Such UAVs rise to an altitude of up to 10 kilometers.
• Heavy drones. Their weight exceeds a ton, devices have been developed for long-range flights lasting more than a day. They can move at an altitude of 20 kilometers.

By characteristics - J'son & Partners Consulting classification

The design of the unmanned vehicle has a satellite navigator and a programmable module. If the UAV is used to receive, store, and transmit information to the attendant console, a memory card and transmitter are additionally installed in the UAV.

The design and functionality change depending on the purpose of the device. There are models drones that know how to accept and respond to human commands. Such devices have special command receiver modules.

J'son & Partners Consulting classifies drones (UAVs) according to the following main characteristics:

• by design/configuration;
• by take-off type;
• by intended purpose:
• by technical characteristics;
• by power supply type of the power plant;
• by payload;
• by type of automation system;
• by collision prevention system;
• by navigation type;
• by types of protection against signal jamming;
• by radio frequency spectrum capacity;
• on-board data processing;
• by software specialization.
• FPV drones

By cyber threats - Kaspersky Lab classification

In mid-November 2023, Kaspersky Lab introduced the first drone classification system in Russia by hazard type, it included four threat levels: moderate, medium, high and critical. Vladimir Kleshnin, head of business development at Kaspersky Antidrone, noted that incidents with drones "have become a headache" for various infrastructure facilities: airports, industrial enterprises, and so on, and the cost of anti-drone systems varies from several hundred thousand rubles to several hundred million rubles. According to him, such a classification will create a dialogue between regulatory authorities, customers and drone manufacturers.

Moderate threat level. This class includes drones sold in any electronics store. They are not modified: they have factory firmware, the usual, non-enhanced radio communication mode is used. Most often, these devices operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Drones of this type have Remote ID, a technology thanks to which a serial number is published on the air, as well as the coordinates of the location and take-off point of the drone. Such devices are relatively easy to detect, simply protect themselves from them, and the potential risk is low.

Medium threat level. Such drones can also be bought in consumer electronics stores, but they differ in a software-modified radio channel: this is not one, but at least two frequency bands, the possibility of two-channel operation. Often such drones allow you to disable Remote ID - they do not publish their coordinates, do not indicate where the pilot is.

High threat level. Such drones have more than two frequency bands, they can operate in multi-channel mode. Most often, they have the Remote ID system disabled. Such drones can be equipped with hardware-enhanced communication transmitters, which makes them more noise-proof. However, often such a target is easier to spot (to understand in which area relative to the detection system the drone is located), since its radiation in the ether is stronger than a weak signal of a moderate type.

Critical threat level. This category primarily includes aircraft-type drones that fly without using a radio control channel at pre-programmed coordinates. Also critical threat levels include FPV drones; LTE mobile-controlled drones; as well as the so-called "self-assemblies."

UAV Market Estimates

2023

Global Microdrone Market Size Reaches $4.87 Billion for the Year

In 2023, sales of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on a global scale reached $4.87 billion. This is about 13% more compared to 2022, when the costs in the relevant area were estimated at $4.31 billion. Such figures are given in the Market Research Future study, the results of which were published at the end of November 2024.

It is noted that the microdron segment is experiencing significant growth due to a surge in demand for air surveillance and monitoring systems in various areas, including agriculture and the defense sector. Compact drones are capable of providing real-time data, covering vast areas. Microdrones can function effectively in hard-to-reach areas, which is important when conducting reconnaissance or rescue operations. In addition, such UAVs help in the elimination of the consequences of natural disasters.

Companies recognize the economic appeal and functionality that small drones offer, and therefore increasingly integrate such devices into their operations. Another market driver is the emergence of microdrones with specialized features tailored to specific industries such as environmental monitoring or delivery services. In particular, small drones can optimize the delivery processes of the "last mile." Such devices are also in demand among enthusiasts and lovers of active pastime: drones are widely used for aerial photography and video shooting during sports, travel, etc. Growth in global sales is driven by technological advances such as artificial intelligence tools, high-resolution cameras and more efficient batteries that increase battery life on a single charge.

In terms of microdrones, the authors of the study identify five key segments: aerial photography, agricultural monitoring, geodesy and mapping, search and rescue, as well as infrastructure inspection. The first of these areas in 2023 accounted for $1.2 billion. Costs in the field of agricultural monitoring are estimated at $1.1 billion, while surveying and mapping accounted for about $1 billion. Drones for search and rescue operations provided $0.87 billion. The infrastructure inspection brought in approximately $0.7 billion. Among the key players in the global market are:

• DJI;
• Hubsan;
• Intel;
• Blade Drone;
• SenseFly;
• 3D Robotics;
• Hoverfly Technologies;
• Skydio;
• Dragonfly;
• Aeryon Labs;
• Walkera;
• Yuneec;
• Parrot;
• AeroVironment;
• Teledyne FLIR.

Geographically, North America the leader, which in 2023 accounted for about $2 billion. In second place is located Europe with costs at the level of $1.5 billion, while the Asia-Pacific region closes the top three, estimated at $1.2 billion. South America The cost of microdrones amounted to $0.1 billion, in the Middle East and in - To Africa $0.07 billion. Market segmentation shows that North America not only leads in costs, but also sets trends critical to industry development.

At the end of 2024, revenue in the segment of compact drones is estimated at $5.5 billion. Market Research Future analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR will be 12.88%. As a result, global spending could rise to $14.49 billion by 2032.^[2]

Drone sales in the world for the year reached 11% and reached $33.7 billion

In 2023, the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market reached $33.7 billion. For comparison, a year earlier, costs in this area were estimated at $30.4 billion. Thus, the growth was at the level of 11%. Industry trends are considered in a study by Drone Industry Insights, the results of which TAdviser reviewed in early November 2024.

The authors of the report identify three key segments in the drone market: these are hardware solutions, software and services. The first of these categories includes platforms, components and production of drone systems: the total share of these areas in the total cost in 2023 amounted to 16%. The software covers flight planning, navigation, data analytics and drone fleet management systems: the software contributed 3.9%. The lion's share of revenue - 80.1% - was provided by all kinds of services.

It is noted that drones are widely in demand in various fields. They are increasingly being used in industries such as construction, agriculture and security. Drones offer unique advantages in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness and data collection capabilities. In addition, the emergence of advanced imaging technologies, including thermal imaging and multi-spectral photography, creates new opportunities for UAVs in the areas of surveillance, mapping and inspection.

One of the main drivers of the industry is technological advances. For example, consumer drones offer features that were previously only available in professional models: high-resolution cameras, advanced stabilization systems and long-distance communications. However, more efficient batteries provide increased battery life. In the commercial sector, drones are increasingly being used to send goods to remote areas and provide last-mile delivery services. In addition, drones help to inspect various structures - bridges, power lines and other infrastructure.

Demand for efficient UAV delivery and optimized inventory management is fueling the market. While corporations like Walmart and Amazon dominate the drone delivery segment, smaller companies around the world are overhauling logistics. The growth of this segment correlates with internal business operations, when drones are used to inspect warehouses, - said in a study by Drone Industry Insights.

In 2023, the global market for mapping and geodesy using drones is estimated at $10 billion. Costs in the energy sector reached $4.66 billion. Demand for drones is increasing in health care and other segments., Asia led, China remains a major market for commercial drones. However, significant growth is observed in the Middle East and in. To Africa

At the end of 2024, revenue in the global unmanned aerial vehicle market is estimated at $36.4 billion. Drone Industry Insights analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR (CAGR in compound percentage) will be 7.11%. As a result, by 2030, costs on a global scale could reach up to $54.6 billion. At the same time, it is expected that in the commercial segment, the CAGR during the period under review will be above the industry average of 7.7%. On the other hand, in the amateur sector, a slight decline is expected with a CAGR of about minus 0.3%.^[3]

The global market for drone photography services for the year grew by 18% to $2.9 billion

In 2023, the global market for unmanned aerial photography reached $2.9 billion. For comparison, in 2022 this figure was $2.46 billion. Growth was recorded at 18%, as stated in the Market Research Future review, published in early October 2024.

The authors of the study cite the rapid development of drone technologies as the main factor in the growth of the industry in question. Onboard cameras provide higher quality shooting, and the duration of flight on a single charge of the battery pack is increased. This makes drones more attractive to photographers and videographers. In addition, by reducing the cost, drones are becoming more accessible to a wide range of consumers. Aerial photography and video photography are used in a variety of fields, including real estate, construction, insurance, and film and television.

Among the significant market players are named, Intel Microdrones, Yuneec, Power Vision Robotics, AirMap,, Parrot Autel Robotics,,, GoPro DJI PrecisionHawk, DroneDeploy, Kittyhawk, senseFly and. Skydio North America is the largest regional segment, accounting for more than $0.7 billion in 2023. In second place is Europe with costs of about $0.6 billion. At the same time, Asia-Pacific is showing the highest growth rates due to the active introduction of drones in various areas, including MEDIA, entertainment and construction.

At the end of 2024, the global market for drone photography services is estimated at $3.42 billion. Market Research Future analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR (average annual growth rate in complex percentages) will be 17.93%. Thanks to this, by 2032, costs will rise to $12.8 billion.^[4]

The volume of the global market for drone delivery services for the year grew by 31%, to $3.83 billion

In 2023, the global market for delivery services using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) reached $3.83 billion. For comparison, a year earlier, costs in this sector were estimated at $2.93 billion. Thus, an increase of about 31% was recorded. Key drivers of the industry are the active development of e-commerce and the increasing demand for faster and more efficient delivery methods. This is stated in the Market Research Future review, published at the end of September 2024.

The logistics industry is rapidly transforming due to the rapid expansion of online commerce. These changes require improved efficiency and performance, which can be achieved with drones. Drones are able to overcome traffic congestion, reach remote and hard-to-reach areas, and deliver goods directly to customers' doorsteps, making them a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional delivery methods.

The authors of the study cite technological advances as another factor in growth. The development of more functional and efficient drones has made air delivery services convenient and cost-effective. Modern drones are equipped with autonomous navigation tools, and the increasing carrying capacity makes it possible to deliver a wide variety of goods. Additionally, the market is stimulated thanks to the developing regulatory framework and government support. This includes addressing issues such as airspace management, safety protocols and liability insurance.

By service type, the authors of the report subdivide the industry in question into last-mile delivery, long-distance delivery, and specialized delivery (e.g., emergency or medical). In 2023, it is estimated that last mile delivery provided the largest revenue due to the growing adoption of e-commerce and the need to improve the efficiency of logistics operations. By carrying capacity, three groups of drones are distinguished: small (up to 5 kg), medium (5-25 kg) and large (over 25 kg). The medium-duty segment in 2023 took the largest share - about 60% of global revenue.

Leading players include Amazon Web Services (AWS), PrecisionHawk, Flytrex, Aerodyne Group, Matternet, Wingcopter, DroneDeploy, EHang, AirMap, Zipline, Alphabet, Flirtey, Skydio, AiRXOS and DJI. E-commerce and retail, health, logistics and transport, construction and agriculture are the key areas of application of drones. Geographically, North America took the largest share in 2023. It is followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East and Africa. The growth in North America is due to the presence of a well-established infrastructure for drone operations, as well as the active introduction of relevant services by companies from the e-commerce sector. In Europe, there is a demand for drone delivery services in the health and logistics sectors. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region is showing the highest growth rates.

At the end of 2024, industry revenue is estimated at $5.02 billion. Market Research Future analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR (compound percentage CAGR) in the global drone delivery services market will be 31.05%. As a result, by 2032, costs globally will reach $43.7 billion.^[5]

Sales of rescue drones in the world for the year exceeded $180 billion

In 2023, search and rescue sales unmanned aerial vehicles on a global scale reached $180.21 billion. For comparison, a year earlier, the volume of this market was estimated at $162.79 billion. Thus, growth exceeded 10%, as stated in the Market Research Future review, published in early September 2024. More here

Growth in drone sales in the commercial sector by 63% to 8.2 billion rubles

At the end of 2023, the volume of the Russian market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the commercial sector reached approximately 8.2 billion rubles. This is 63% more compared to the previous year. In 2024, as expected, costs will rise by more than 60%, amounting to about 13.4 billion rubles. Such data are contained in the study of Rostelecom, the results of which are presented on June 6, 2024.

It is noted that drones are increasingly used by business to solve various problems. Among them are named providing remote areas with access to, Internet monitoring facilities (buildings, high-rise structures, power lines, construction sites), transportation of goods and delivery of goods. In addition, drones help in the study of hard-to-reach objects of nature. According to Rostelecom estimates, in 2023-2024, remote monitoring accounted for 42% of the total number of projects using unmanned systems, facilities security - 38%, logistics tasks - 10%. The study highlights several key applications. drones

Agriculture

We are talking about solving a wide range of tasks that cover animal husbandry, crop production, fishing and forestry. In particular, the use of drones in the field of animal husbandry is focused on finding and counting individuals within certain zones. Digital technologies, such as computer vision, help identify and keep records of animals. With the help of UAVs, it is also possible to identify sick or dead animals in order to timely limit the spread of diseases.

In the field of crop production, drones can perform tasks of investigating soil quality/composition, detecting nutritional deficiencies in plants, identifying pests, spraying pesticides and insecticides. In fisheries, UAVs allow trawlers to navigate the richest fishing grounds, optimizing their loading and use of fuel. In forestry, drones are used to monitor forests, including counting trees. Drones help calculate yields, detect fires, identify pests and other risks.

Construction and Real Estate

With the help of drones, you can explore the area for construction, adjust construction solutions, as well as monitor the progress of work and safety on the site in real time. In addition, you can conduct virtual 3D tours of objects for customers. Aerial survey data obtained from the BLLA can be used to draw up a detailed map of the site of the future project: this will allow assessing the layout taking into account the specific landscape and select the optimal land plot for the construction of the facility. This approach significantly saves time and money. Aeromonitoring data make it possible to form an objective picture of the progress of work and, if necessary, can be used as an evidence base in resolving disputes with the developer.

Power

Drones help improve the efficiency of solar power plants by reducing the cost of equipment monitoring and timely maintenance. Drones can also be used to monitor the condition of wind turbines and inspect high-voltage power lines. By saving resources, the frequency of checks using drones can be increased - this will allow faster and more accurate detection of damage in order to eliminate problems before emergencies occur.

Oil and gas industry

In this area, using drones, infrastructure is monitored, in particular, pipelines and oil rigs. Drones can do jobs that carry risks to people's lives and health. These can be, for example, inspections of chimneys and chimneys, storage tanks at refineries, as well as berths and other hazardous environments. Thanks to UAVs, survey costs, according to various estimates, can be reduced to 33-50%. Drones help in the early stages to detect emerging damage, identify maintenance problems, and collect detailed data in high resolution to create maps.

Transport and Logistics

Drones can be used to deliver a variety of goods to hard-to-reach regions. These can be drugs, water, food, any technique, etc. Drones are not tied to roads, which reduces transportation time and costs. Moreover, delivery on board drones is cheaper than transporting goods by helicopters. In Russia, by 2030 it is planned to expand the length of unmanned corridors to at least 195 thousand km.

Telecommunications industry

Satellite infrastructure is commonly used to establish communications in places where cellular networks are not covered, especially in remote areas. However, the cost of such services is very high. Drones can partially solve the problem by forming temporary networks at public events, in emergency situations or during natural disasters. The deployment of such channels does not take much time, and both telephone communication and Internet access can be organized. In addition, drones can be used to monitor and maintain existing telecommunications infrastructure, which will allow operators to identify and fix problems faster and more efficiently.^[6]

Growth of the Russian market by 50% to 33.7 billion rubles

At the end of 2023, the volume of the Russian market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) reached 33.7 billion rubles, taking into account the sales of equipment for a special military operation. This is almost 50% more than the result for 2022, when sales were estimated at 22.9 billion rubles. Such data are given in a study by the Aeronext Association, the results of which were published on December 29, 2023.

The revenue of companies from the supply of drones to the civil market in 2023 increased by 35% compared to 2022 and reached 19.8 billion rubles. The average annual growth in revenue from the sale of UAV-based services was recorded at around 14%. As in 2022, the largest revenue growth is shown by the category of special-purpose drones that are not civilian - plus 318% in 2023.

As the main direction of use of drones, developers assume the collection and transmission of data, as well as remote monitoring: approximately 54% of the devices are provided for these works. The second priority field of application is called aerology: approximately 21% of drones are focused on the transportation of goods. This is followed by UAVs designed for external work: their share is estimated at 9%. The rest is made up of drones to perform tasks in other areas.

In the UAV segment for data collection and transmission, as well as remote monitoring, aircraft-type drones account for 44% of all devices, while multirotor models account for 34%. Another 22% are vertical take-off and landing aircraft and helicopter-type drones. In the field of aerology, most drones are multirotor - 45%, while helicopter-type devices account for 36%.

Based on the data obtained, it can be determined that the developers see the collection, receipt of data, remote monitoring, as well as aerology as the main directions for the use of unmanned aircraft systems, which is rather a promising direction for the development of the industry, since cargo transportation using unmanned aircraft is currently officially carried out only within the framework of experimental legal regimes, the report says.

In the period from 2022 to 2023. The domestic UAV industry showed development not only in terms of sales growth in monetary and physical terms, but also in terms of the development of relations and interactions between existing companies. This stimulated the formation of new industry participants.

The industry is experiencing an active increase in the number of employees: according to estimates, it increased from 6.2 thousand people in 2022 to 8.4 thousand in 2023. At the same time, there was a redistribution of the shares of workers in the spheres. The share of employees employed in the manufacture of UAVs has risen: from 25% in 2022 to 30% in 2023. At the same time, the number of specialists performing development and operation has slightly decreased - by 2% in each of the areas. Such a change in shares may be caused by the active development of the production direction in the industry to meet the demand arising from the current geopolitical situation.

It is said that the Russian drone market as of the beginning of 2024 is growing. There is a significant predominance of the number of business entities engaged in the development and manufacture of drones over the number of companies focusing exclusively on the provision of services (without independent design and manufacture). This indicates the existence on the market of a significant number of enterprises operating UAVs in the "gray" regulatory zone.^[7]

2022: Mobilisation spurred drone sales tenfold

On October 14, 2022, it became known about a sharp surge in demand for small drones in Russia, which is associated with partial mobilization. According to Moneyplace, sales of camera quadcopters on Ozon and Wildberries in September 2022 increased 10-20 times compared to the previous month.

On Ozon, according to analysts, the quadcopter with a built-in camera and GPS system - Flytrox Skylark 4K - was in the greatest demand in the category.

It is noted that the increase in demand for the most part affected small-sized drones with a flight distance of up to 150 meters. As a rule, at the end of summer, the demand for such goods falls, notes Kommersant"," referring to the statements of market participants.

Drone sales are on the rise amid the announcement of a partial mobilization. Russian regional officials have repeatedly stated that drones are a necessary part of equipment for those mobilized. The first deputy general director of FlyDrone, Alexander Kaninovsky, also noted that the growth in demand is associated with mobilization. However, according to him, not all drones left for a special operation, some consumers buy them for resale.

The interlocutor of the newspaper in one of the electronics networks notes that devices of the middle price category can hardly be used in hostilities, since they weigh little and are easily blown away by the wind. According to experts interviewed by the newspaper, even toy drones are suitable for reconnaissance of the nearest area.

The newspaper writes that clashes between Russian and Ukrainian drones have already been seen in hostilities in Ukraine: for example, on October 13, 2022, Ukrainian TV presenter Sergei Pritula, whose fund is raising funds to buy drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, published a video from a drone that collided with another drone - allegedly Russian.^[8]

2020: EY: Effect of drone use in Russia exceeds $1 billion a year

On May 18, 2020, EY published the results of a study of the Russian unmanned aerial vehicle market. The effect of the use of drones, according to experts, in the country exceeds $1 billion, but their implementation is limited due to problems with infrastructure and regulation.

The report says that, given the territories and uneven development of infrastructure, the effect of the use of drones in the Russian Federation may be greater than in many other countries. Russian manufacturers offer world-class products, but faced with numerous restrictions, they are often forced to focus on foreign markets. Adapting regulation and using civilian infrastructure can accelerate market disclosure, EY is confident.

According to analysts, legislation in Russia does not take into account such features of drone flights as remote control, autonomous flights, ultra-low altitudes, flights over people. 

Researchers called public rejection another problem in the development of the drone market: people do not understand who controls the drone, fear surveillance, invasion of personal space, many simply do not like the noise made by drones.

Drone flights "beyond line of sight" have the greatest potential. To implement them, it is necessary to agree on a flight plan, obtain permits from administrations and organizations over the territory of which the flight will take place, permission to use airspace, after which it is temporarily closed to other users. For almost any aerial photography, it is necessary to obtain permission and undergo subsequent declassification of the record, which can take up to several weeks.

The effect of the use of drones in line of sight in Russia in EY is estimated at $338 million per year, and outside the line of sight - at $747 million.^[9]

Full study of the Russian EY drone market

2018: Drone sales in Russia amounted to 160 thousand units (+ 70%) in the amount of 1.9 billion rubles (+ 53 %)

In 2018, Russians purchased 160 thousand unmanned aerial vehicles, which is 70% more than a year earlier, which was largely facilitated by the high demand for cheap products. In money, the market volume grew by 53% and reached 1.9 billion, rubles according to the group's data. At the M.Video-Eldorado retailer itself, annual sales drones more than doubled.

The most popular in 2018 were budget drones worth up to 7 thousand rubles. Due to their appearance on the market, the average price of UAVs decreased by 10% compared to 2017 and amounted to 1.9 thousand rubles.

At the same time, the implementation of devices equipped with a camera with resolution 4K or FullHD, the function of following the owner and the shockproof body has tripled. Such drones in 2018 occupied 10% of the market and are used mainly for professional shooting: recording at events, monitoring, logistics, security or agribusiness. 30% of the market comes from devices that shoot video in standard definition. 

Analysts of M.Video-Eldorado also note the growing demand for drones from year to year with price tags from 30 thousand rubles. Devices weighing up to 250 grams occupied up to 70% of the Russian UAV market, which is due to legislative restrictions: heavier devices must be registered.

According to Oleg Reznikov, head of the Entertainment and Photo/Video department of the M.Video-Eldorado group, drones are exploring new areas of use every year: from construction to security and surveillance. However, the researchers name the popularity of online videos as the main sales driver: 2 million videos are published daily on Russian-language social networks, follows from the data of Brand Analytics, which is referred to by the Kommersant newspaper. ^[10]

2016-2017

J’son & Partners Consulting

According to J'son & Partners Consulting estimates, the global UAV market in 2017 amounted to $7.8 billion and will continue to grow actively. Most of the market value comes from military UAVs (53% of the market). In quantitative terms, the market structure is mirror inverse: the main share in the number is occupied by consumer UAVs (84%), 15% falls on commercial UAVs and only 0.5% - on military drones. This is due to the fact that military UAVs cost on average 200 times more than drones for civilian needs.

Due to the gradual reduction in the cost of the UAV component base, as well as the entry into the market of numerous new players, including in the military segment, the average cost of drones will continue to decline by 2020 in all segments by 7-27%. This will also lead to a change in the structure of the UAV market (both in monetary and quantitative terms), since hundreds of thousands and even millions of constantly cheaper consumer drones will enter the market, comparable in functionality to commercial UAVs, and new players will enter the military market (for example, from China), which will offer the necessary functionality at a lower price than today's models.

In value terms, civilian drones are already slightly less than half of the market (47%), of which commercial UAVs account for half of the total (24%), the rest - consumer (23%). However, J'son & Partners Consulting estimates that the global UAV market will grow at a much faster rate in number than in value. And its main driver will remain consumer UAVs.

As for the Russian UAV market, at the end of 2017, our country occupied 3% in quantity and 2% in the value of the world market. At the same time, in the segment of military UAVs, its share is several times higher (15% in pieces). In 2017, the Russian UAV market is estimated at $163 million (9.5 billion rubles) and by 2020 the market may grow 1.5 times.

According to J'son & Partners Consulting, the share of domestically produced drones in the Russian market is 10% in 2017 and will increase to 11% by 2020. The main increase will be in the commercial segment, where more activity of Russian manufacturers is expected and which will double to the current level. Thus, up to 40% of commercial drones sold in the Russian Federation will be domestically produced.

The further growth of the local market and the export potential of domestic solutions is still hindered by serious regulatory restrictions.

According to forecasts of Japanese experts, the global market for remotely controlled aircraft will grow to $20.5 billion by 2020 (80% more than in 2015).

The global UAV market is valued at $7.3 billion in 2016, according to J'son & Partners Consulting (Jason & Partners Consulting). It is projected to grow to $9.5 billion by 2020. The Russian UAV market in 2016 will amount to $147 million with the potential to grow to $224 million by 2020.

Euroconsult

According to Euroconsult analysts, produced in 2016, the market for the production, services and sale of remotely manned aircraft (RPAS) by 2025 will grow to $26 billion, which is an order of magnitude more than in 2015 ($1 billion).

By this time, about 600 thousand will be used in the world. RPAS drones. 39% of such devices are involved in the field of agriculture. Companies producing drones are gradually coming to the sphere of service provision.

Analysts Gartner in February 2017 published the results of a study, according to which in 2017 the production of drones will increase to 3 million. For comparison: in 2016, 2.1 million unmanned aerial vehicles were produced. In 2017, revenue from drone supplies will grow to $6 billion, and by 2020 - to $11.2 billion. The average annual market growth rate (CAGR) over the forecast period is expected at 34%.

The authors of the study noted that the share of drones for industrial monitoring during this period will remain the largest - about 30%.

7% of drones will fall on the agricultural market. Commercial delivery, due to the high costs of operations, will account for only 1% of drones.

Tractica predicts that revenue from drone deliveries and service delivery will grow from $792 million in 2017 to $12.6 billion by 2025. The company's report claims most of the revenue comes from equipment sales. Then this share will shift towards services and operations.

Flying cars

• Flying cars

Major Drone Market Trends

2024

15 of the most important technologies in the field of drones and robots

Mobile robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely used in many industrial, commercial, consumer and military fields. They are used for logistics, production, object inspection, mapping, security, autonomous data collection, cleaning and transportation of goods. Depending on the tasks performed, such automated assistants can be used indoors and in open spaces - on the ground, in water or in the air. In a study released in mid-November 2024, Gartner analysts highlight 15 of the most important technologies in the field of drones and robots.

1. Humanoid work robots

Such machines mimic the human body in shape, movement and capability. Humanoid robots using artificial intelligence technologies are able to perform a wide range of tasks, adapting to the environment and learning over time. In addition, such devices can function side by side with people, taking on heavy and/or monotonous operations. Although robots lack fine motor skills and high-speed navigation, they can effectively cope with routine tasks such as unloading/loading, sorting and carrying goods.

2. Multi-Agent Orchestration Platforms

We are talking about intelligent middleware that organizes and coordinates the work of various business applications, heterogeneous fleets of operating robots and other automated agents, such as elevators, doors, etc.

3. Offline data collection and validation

The technology involves the use of various means, such as indoor drones and mobile robots, to independently obtain different information. This can be, for example, information about inventory, the state of facilities, etc. Autonomous data collection and verification platforms allow companies to increase the frequency and safety of cyclical calculations, making this process more productive and less time-consuming.

4. Autonomous trucks

Robotic trucks rely on lidars, radars, cameras, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and mapping data combined with AI algorithms to carry cargo autonomously - without human control or interference. This improves the safety and efficiency of logistics operations.

5. Mobile sorting robots

Such machines solve the problems of sorting a huge number of goods in warehouses. This is especially important for e-commerce companies, in particular marketplaces that handle hundreds of thousands of customer orders a day.

6. Warehouse robot assemblers

Another type of automated assistant for warehouse activities. Such machines can identify, pick up and move goods using advanced AI and machine vision systems. As a result, the need for manual labor is reduced, which is important in conditions of labor shortages.

7. Smart robots

These are mobile machines with AI designed to perform one or more tasks offline. Such robots can reduce physical risk to humans, as well as perform work with greater reliability, lower costs and higher performance.

8. Autonomous vehicles for private infrastructures

Machines of this type are designed to perform certain tasks in closed areas. They can be used for baggage transportation at airports, as well as for cargo transportation at ports, mining sites, etc.

9. Drones to deliver small cargoes

UAV delivery is in demand in densely populated megacities and in remote and hard-to-reach regions. Drones are not afraid of traffic jams and other problems that are relevant for traditional ground infrastructure. Drones can be used to deliver emergency equipment, such as a defibrillator.

10. Collaborative order collection robots

This is a less costly and less risky approach to partially automating the selection process. Such robots can use the warehouse's existing physical infrastructure, including shelving and shelves, and work alongside humans.

11. Autonomous vehicles for the city

These machines have the potential to change the economy. transport For example, in megacities, low fares for passenger transportation and high-quality service can reduce the need for private car ownership. In addition, road safety may be improved.

12. Robots for delivering light cargo

Wheeled autonomous vehicles can be used to deliver parcels, including groceries and ready-made food. The size of such robots varies depending on the tasks performed.

13. Autonomous mobile robots

Machines of this type are mainly used for the transportation of goods in factories and warehouses. Robots can perform many cargo transport tasks continuously and more efficiently compared to humans.

14. Mobile robotic GTP systems ("goods to man")

Such systems provide the delivery of the required goods for processing (picking/replenishment) to an operator located in a certain area. As a result, the number of maintenance personnel is reduced and the number of picking errors is reduced.

15. Robotic Storage

They are specialized storage and ordering solutions that come as an integrated platform consisting of unified cyberphysical systems and software.^[11]

5 Challenges to the Global Drone Market

The main problem of the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry is regulatory obstacles. Against the background of the ongoing active development of the global drone market, the priorities of manufacturing companies are shifting from public recognition to attracting customers and scaling operations. This is stated in a study by Drone Industry Insight (DroneII), the results of which were published on October 1, 2024.

The main conclusion of the presented report is that the safety of various tasks is the main driver of the introduction of drones around the world. About 64% of respondents in the 2024 survey described "improving occupational safety" as a "very important" factor. In previous years, it was difficult to determine the main reason for the introduction of drones, but in 2024 drones are generally considered a tool to improve safety in the workplace. These devices, as noted, can perform very complex and dangerous tasks with high efficiency. At the same time, many processes are accelerated and costs are reduced.

The growth of the global drone industry is stimulated by the rapid development of technology. Drones are becoming more functional, and the duration of flight on a single charge of the battery pack is increasing. At the same time, the cost of drones is reduced, and they become more accessible to a wide range of consumers. But there are a number of difficulties, among which DroneII analysts call:

1.     Deficiencies in the regulatory framework. This problem is in first place in the DroneII ranking - as in 2023. Regulatory hurdles are hampering industry development in many regions around the world.

2.     Difficulties with attracting customers came in second place, while in 2023 they were on the fifth line in the list.

3.     The top three are closed by issues related to internal policies. In 2023, this problem was in fourth place in the list of key challenges.

4.     Another obstacle is the search for additional funding to scale up drone production. A year earlier, this problem was not so acute, being on the eighth line in the ranking. However, due to the difficult macroeconomic situation and the deteriorating geopolitical situation, companies had additional difficulties in raising capital.

5.     At the same time, the problem of awareness and acceptance of UAV technologies by society fell from second place to fifth. Citizens understand the benefits and advantages of unmanned aerial vehicles, thanks to which they are increasingly used in various spheres of life.

Among other restraining factors, the authors of the study cite the search/recruitment of qualified personnel (sixth place in 2024 versus seventh in 2023), tough competition between market players (seventh position vs. sixth a year earlier), inflation and economic instability (eighth line vs. third in 2023), logistics difficulties (ninth place versus tenth in 2023) and geopolitical uncertainties (tenth place versus ninth a year earlier).

The global drone market is segmented into hardware solutions, software, and services. Their shares are estimated at 18.5%, 7.1% and 74.5%, respectively. Analysts point to the growing global diversification of the drone industry. In general, drones are increasingly used in almost every corner of the globe. Going forward, the industry is expected to continue to expand.^[12]

2022

Drone market deflated

At the end of August 2019, Bloomberg published an article about the fall in interest in drones - businessmen and investors were disappointed in this market segment due to low demand, and companies began to close one after another.

In 2018, even the largest manufacturing startups began to close, although at the beginning of their journey they received hundreds of millions of dollars in investments. The reason was the divergence of expectations from reality - despite forecasts of explosive growth in technology, drones did not win the market. Dozens of other start-ups have been swept away by a wave of consolidation.

In the early 2010s, the prospects seemed much more rosy, and new manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles attracted huge investments, because drones, according to them, were to be used everywhere: from parcel delivery to agriculture. Drones are still considered an important component of future systems and technologies, but investors are not ready to invest in a sector that will not generate serious profits anytime soon.

Venture capitalists in the period from 2012 to 2019 invested $2.6 billion in drones. However, by 2018, startups that appeared at the peak of the excitement ran out of money. Due to low demand, many of them never received additional funding. French manufacturer Parrot SA announced in July it would halt production of most of its drones. Software developer Airware raised $118 million from investors, but closed at the end of 2018 and laid off 140 employees. GoPro pulled out of the drone business and laid off several hundred workers, citing "too fierce competition in the market." However, at the same time, at least 67 drone startups have been sold since the industry began. Buyers include competitors as well as companies from other sectors of industry.

Such trends are changing the market, and now companies offering service to already used drones have come forward. PrecisionHawk., an industry leader in drone data inspection and analysis, acquired five startups in 2018. Among them are Uplift Data Partners, which conducts construction and real estate inspections, HAZON., which specializes in power, and Droners.io, an online network of independent drone pilots. Against the background of such changes, Chinese startups and companies from other industries that produce drones for their own needs also came forward.

Fast-paced technology has become both a boon and a curse for entrepreneurs. Although it expanded business opportunities, it turned out that some market positions quickly became obsolete due to improved navigation and flight software. Now the industry has begun to select the most lucrative business plans, and survival tactics include shifting company focus, including finding new target customers. Airware, the highest-paid startup, originally developed cloud software and autopilot systems for agricultural drones. They had to fly over the land and collect data on the state of the crops, assess the humidity in the fields and the presence of pests. But most farmers do not yet have the opportunity to use such information, and the company needs to look for new possibilities for using its drones.

Start-up executives are also noting a decline in interest in the industry, a 2019 survey by research group Drone Industry Insights found. But many still see the potential in it as companies hone business models, find more flexible solutions and embrace cutting-edge technology.^[13]

Commercialization of drones threatens the population of the Earth

The commercialization of drones can lead to an increase in the threat to the safety of the Earth's population. This opinion was made by analysts at the research company IOActive. They insist that the expansion of the practice of using drones by business is associated with a number of invisible risks^[14].

IOActive experts are based on the forecast of Technavio, which back in 2018 predicted the growth of the commercial drone market by 36% ($11.61 billion in numerical terms) between 2018 and 2022. According to IOActive, the growth in popularity and availability of drones does not correspond to an improvement in non-hazardous characteristics. Among other things, experts consider it likely that devices will be reprogrammed to fly at certain GPS coordinates and to launch cyber attacks on Wi-Fi networks (or other types of wireless networks). In addition, the potential danger of conducting man-in-the-middle attacks, spreading malware, attacks on traffic junctions or violating the privacy of certain geographical locations in order to conduct industrial espionage is considered high.

IOActive analysts urge drone manufacturers to take all necessary measures to ensure the cybersecurity of aircraft. In their opinion, similar products produced by the military did not have such a problem, since the defense departments and intelligence services understand the need for maximum protection against hackers.

Commercial drones do not have such characteristics, due to the fact that, according to experts, the companies producing them are more aimed at quickly bringing the product to market and pay much less attention to security issues.

2017

• New questions arise about the legality of the use of UAVs in various situations, as the range of drone use is constantly growing^[15]
• The transition of manufacturers and service companies from the stage of studying UAV technologies and the market to the implementation of technologies and solutions;
• UAV insurance becomes a priority. Service companies have begun commercial operation of UAVs and acquire a wide fleet of drones, which requires reducing the risks of their operation;
• The global UAV-based services market is beginning to take shape. Service companies providing services around the world introduce drones into their processes and offer them to their customers;
• Civilian and military UAVs have begun to cannibalize the satellite and manned aircraft market, a trend that will grow;
• Demand for high-quality data is increasing;
• Mass implementation of flight stabilization systems in consumer UAVs;
• Development of DIY and Analyze Yourself market segment;
• Consumer drones have become a fashion trend;
• Thousands and tens of thousands of new jobs will be created in the UAV industry around the world;
• Developments in artificial intelligence and specialized sensors will take the use of drones to the next level.

UAV Market Development Berriers

The development of the UAV industry meets a number of restrictions and barriers, both legal and technical, which significantly affect the development of the market, both in individual countries and in the world as a whole. The problems of the UAV market development are:

Legal barriers

• Drone interference in privacy and trade secrets. Using even a consumer drone, you can easily fly into private territory and take photos and videos, including using night vision, thermal imagers and other sensors, which can directly violate the principles of non-interference in privacy and trade secrets.
• The need to find a compromise between the needs of private consumers, business and the state. The exponential growth of sold devices and their unlicensed operation can pose a threat to the functioning of public services and pose a threat to national security.
• Drones can be misused. For the purpose of theft, smuggling, transportation of prohibited substances. And often it is not possible to determine what mission even a nearby drone is performing until it is completed.

Russia

Main article: Infrastructure for unmanned aerial vehicles in Russia

• Military drones in Russia

2017

According to the results of 2017, Russia occupied 3% of the share in quantity and 2% of the share in the value of the world market. In 2017, the Russian UAV market is estimated at $163 million ( 9.5 billion rubles) and by 2020 the market may grow 1.5 times. Russia occupies a more significant share in the military UAV segment - 15% in the number of sales.

According to J'son & Partners Consulting, the share of domestically produced drones in the Russian market is 10% in 2017 and will increase to 11% by 2020. The main increase will be in the commercial segment, where more activity of Russian manufacturers is expected and which will double to the current level - up to 40% of commercial drones sold in the Russian Federation will be of domestic production. The consumer mass segment will be fully controlled by popular brands of foreign production (like DJI) with a slight presence of Russian manufacturers (5%). Foreign-made military UAVs, which are now purchased in pieces by military departments to study foreign experience, may almost disappear by 2020.

According to the AERONET Association, 190 +/- 20 companies operating in the civil UAV market with an age of no more than three years and up to five employees are present in the civil market. Their total revenue is estimated by the Association at 1400 +/- 500 million rubles. The activities of these companies include:

• production and sale of own UAVs and their components;
• distribution of foreign drones and components;
• provision of services based on UAV (30% of companies).

The specificity of the Russian UAV market lies in the predominance of military drone manufacturers and the extremely small presence of consumer and commercial drone manufacturers. At the same time, the predominant part of military UAV manufacturers has in their portfolio either already outdated technically models, or only prototypes of modern models that are demonstrated at exhibitions, but do not go into mass production (for the needs of the state or for export). And, despite significant budgetary injections from the state, the products of Russian military-industrial complex companies now do not withstand competition with Western models, for example, with Israeli drones.

A similar picture is in the consumer UAV segment: the entire market is occupied by the products of foreign companies, mostly Chinese. And, despite the fact that over the past 2-3 years, startup companies have appeared in the country, for example, on the basis of Skolkovo, all of them are at the stage of developing and testing prototypes or, at best, the first piece orders and do not carry out mass sales.

If we talk about the commercial segment, now at least 58 domestic manufacturers with existing models or at least prototypes are operating on the Russian market. Most companies produce dual-use products - they fulfill a state order and at the same time try to make money on the commercial market. Manufacturers with the largest number of commercial UAV models in the portfolio are Zala Aero Group, Unmanned Systems LLC and Istra Experimental Mechanical Plant.

Foreign UAV manufacturers dominate the consumer segment of the Russian market. The main share of the consumer market is occupied by cheap drones in the price segment up to $250. It is more correct to say that these are radio-controlled toys purchased mainly for entertainment.

2016

Russia holds a small share in drone sales on the global market, it is about 2%, but has high potential for further growth. It is worth noting that in the sales structure of the Russian market, civilian UAVs account for more than 70% of the market, in which the main share is occupied by consumer drones.

Analysts at J'son & Partners Consulting note the following key trends in the unmanned aerial vehicle market:

• Drones are being actively introduced into segments that are today serviced by satellites and manned aircraft, while the demand for high-quality aerial survey data is increasing;
• The boundaries between professional and consumer drones began to narrow, and the average price for all types of devices will decrease;
• A new rapidly growing segment is being formed - the market for services for geo-information services, and developments in the field of artificial intelligence and specialized sensors will support the development of the UAV industry.

Advantages of unmanned vehicles

To evaluate all the advantages of UAVs, you need to understand where and how they can be used. Today, about 90% of the Russian drone market is involved in two directions:

Mapping.

Diagnostic survey of objects, in particular, pipelines, power lines, highways.

Unmanned aerial vehicles are also actively used in the agricultural sector to collect information on the area of ​ ​ crops, airbrushing, as well as chemical treatment of seedlings.

Maintenance and maintenance of UAVs is cheaper than similar costs for manned aircraft. After all, aircraft and helicopters need to maintain safety systems and pilot protection. Specialists managing and servicing aircraft and helicopters must undergo training, retraining, and a medical commission. The time and financial costs of drones are incommensurably lower.

A significant advantage of drones is their cross-country ability and transport accessibility - they will reach those land plots where it is problematic to get by land or by plane. For example, to the almost deserted island of Khachin on Seliger.

The speed of delivery of goods is another strong argument in favor. The drone flies to a remote land plot in 30 minutes, and the helicopter in 2 hours.

For manned aircraft, it is important to have a huge take-off and landing area, while a 500-600 meter strip is enough for drones to land, and miniature drones will easily land even on steps near the threshold.

UAVs use fuel economically due to their compact dimensions, which is also an advantage.

Priority Industries to Implement Drone-Based Solutions

J'son & Partners Consulting identifies the following areas of drone use in a 2016 report:

• Agriculture;
• Emergency services (firefighters, police, ambulance);
• Power and mining;
• Construction and development;
• Geodesy (cartography);
• Insurance;
• Transportation and delivery;
• State and municipal services;
• media and media;
• Environmental protection organizations;
• Science and education;
• Communication;
• Photo and video shooting;
• Sports and entertainment.

Key prospects for the drone market in Russia:

• police use of large cities;
• application by firefighters;
• application in health care;
• application in cartography;
• high-definition geodata;
• urgent delivery of purchases, food, spare parts, batteries, cables;
• courier services;
• aerial surveying for the needs of agro-business and precision agriculture;
• monitoring of pipelines and power lines;
• use as a last mile to improve network coverage;
• entering the airline UAV market;
• media use;
• increased commercial activity in software development;
• increased sales of drones with high-quality cameras and stabilization systems.

However, like any innovative industry, the UAV market faces difficulties to overcome. J'son & Partners Consulting highlights the following barriers to the development of the UAV market:

• Insufficiently clear legislation regarding the use of consumer and commercial drones and the prohibition of their free use (licensing) in airspace in Russia;
• The lack of a modern production base in Russia, focused on the mass consumer and mass commercial market, which leads to higher costs and an increase in the cost of devices;
• Unmanned vehicles belong to the category of goods, the export of which from Russia is prohibited by law. There is a similar situation in some other countries where there are customs restrictions on the import or export of these devices.

In addition, there is a danger of creating problems for other participants in air traffic, as well as vehicles, infrastructure and people on the ground. There are serious concerns about the misuse of drones to interfere with privacy and trade secrets, where possible to intercept and gain control of the drone by others. To reduce the risks considered in a number of countries, there is a requirement for compulsory insurance of commercial UAVs. All this restrains development and as a result, private venture investments in UAV projects are clearly insufficient.

Drones in archaeology

Archaeologists have long resorted to aerial photography, as well as satellite images and LiDAR laser rangefinders (abbreviated Light Identification Detection and Ranging) when drawing topographic maps of the area and identifying places for new excavations. However, the real breakthrough for archeology was the emergence of compact and inexpensive drones.

Equipped with thermal cameras, drones help scientists find the remains of settlements and buildings hidden from view underground. ABC News learned about the experience of using UAVs by American archaeologists Jesse Casana and Chad Hill in November 2017.

Cameras with thermal imagers installed on drones are able to detect archaeological objects at a depth of several meters, since the temperature of brickwork or masonry is usually higher than that of the surrounding soil. In addition, drones significantly save time: surveying the territory with their help takes minutes instead of several months, as with traditional methods.

The naked eye sees only an empty field, but under the ground there are large stone walls and other buildings that are not visible on the surface. The structures have different thermal characteristics, and if you shoot in the right angle and at the right moment, you will see everything. It's just amazing! "says Jesse Kazan.

Archaeologists have been experimenting with the technology for several years and have used drones in several projects. UAVs have helped make a number of important discoveries in Asia, America and the Middle East. Among the finds of scientists is a massive stone slab made by man, which was found in the ancient city of Peter in Jordan.^[16]

Drones in the energy industry

The global drone energy solutions market is valued at nearly $9 and a half billion by consultancy PwC in the fall of 2017 and has sustainable growth prospects.

Drones form a separate segment of the global energy market due to the transition of the global industry to energy efficient technologies. The growth of this segment is facilitated by an energy-saving policy on the transition to renewable energy sources in, and China India other countries. PwC noted that regulators of leading power states are levying significant fines from companies for forced outages. And the annual losses of the industry associated with repair work and compensation payments amount to about $169 billion. Experts note that the use of power engineers UAV allows you to minimize losses. In particular, drones with a built-in flamethrower are effectively used in eliminating "blockages" that weigh down power lines, they also help monitor vegetation levels in power grid areas and carry out preliminary calculations of the implementation of investments in new power plants.

PwC calculated that the length of power grids enveloping the entire planet will collectively increase by 15% - to 6.8 million km^[17].

2024: Russia began to use drones to repair power lines, which reduce the cost of work by 4 times

Russian energy companies are actively introducing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for the diagnosis and repair of power lines (power lines), which significantly reduces the cost of maintaining energy infrastructure. This trend became known on July 9, 2024 during the design and educational intensive "Archipelago 2024."

According to the Telegram channel "2035. News NTI, "the use of drones for the examination and repair of high-voltage power lines reduces the cost of work by 3-4 times compared to traditional maintenance methods. Drones show particular effectiveness when examining lines passing over water obstacles, where classical diagnostic and repair methods are often not applicable.

The use of UAVs for repairing power lines is being introduced in Russia

The introduction of unmanned technologies in the Russian energy industry began about six years ago. During this time, drones have established themselves as a reliable tool for a wide range of tasks, including line diagnostics, stripping, clamping, additional equipment and protective coatings.

At the initial stage, multipurpose drones were used to survey power lines, which were not intended for specific tasks in the power. However, over time, specialized unmanned diagnostic and repair platforms adapted to the needs of the industry were developed.

The drone operator, being on the shore, has the opportunity to carry out not only diagnostics of the line, but also to cut the spread, install clamps to prevent these spread, install additional equipment, for example, signal balls, short-circuit sensors, weather stations or apply anti-corrosion and anti-icing coatings, - explained Pavel Kamnev, commercial director of Laboratory of the Future.[18]

NPP inspections

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) help save money and make employees safer, says Scottish-based Dounreay Site Restoration Limited ( DSRL), which specialises in decommissioning nuclear power plants. In November 2017, DSRL announced that it would save 100 thousand feet sterling (more than $130 thousand) by using a drone for high-altitude inspection of nuclear power plant facilities.

Equipped with cameras, the drone is capable of climbing to a height of 120 meters, so that now Dounreay employees can conduct high-altitude inspections from the ground and not put themselves at risk. Read more here.

Drones and fire fighting

The scope of use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is constantly expanding. In late August 2017, CNBC revealed how drones help fight fires.

Fire services in a number of American cities send drones to the site of the fire, using them as scouts. Specialized UAVs equipped with gas analyzers and cameras with thermal imagers allow not only to assess the scale of the disaster, but also to save lives.

An important advantage of drones is the possibility of their rapid use.

What used to take 10-15 minutes, with the help of drones can be done in two to three minutes, - said Jeff Kleven, head of the battalion of the fire department of Fremont, North Carolina, in an interview with the agency.

Fremont is one of several hundred American cities where drones are in the service of firefighters. According to SkyFire Consulting, a company specializing in fire fighting drone training, between 300 and 400 police and fire departments use UAVs in the United States, and this number is rapidly increasing.

According to the head of SkyFire Consulting Matt Sloane, hundreds of people had to be involved in search and rescue operations during fires, and now a flying drone with a thermal imager helps to find a person very quickly.

Also, the infrared image of the fire obtained with the help of drones allows you to understand where the flame rages the most, and on extinguishing which areas you need to focus your efforts. In addition, when eliminating fires during railway crashes, specialized drones can be used to detect chemical leaks.

Another advantage of UAVs is economy. A drone for a couple of thousand dollars can at least partially replace the helicopter service, which costs millions to attract. This is especially true for small cities like Fremont, which cannot afford so much spending, noted Jeff Kleven.^[19]

Drones to provide telecommunications services

Main article: Drones in telecom

Drones in logistics (in hours delivery of parcels)

Walmart

One way to reduce costs in the retail industry remains drone delivery, for example: one of the world's largest retailers, Walmart, opened the Walmart Tech ATX incubator in Austin, Texas, back in 2018, including to develop solutions using unmanned technologies. In particular, we are talking about the use of drones in the distribution centers of the company, where with their help it can speed up a number of operations. Thus, the inventory of goods at the Walmart distribution center in Arkansas (with an area of ​ ​ more than 1.2 million square feet) takes about a month. Automation and optimization of checks using drones will reduce these deadlines to a day.

The company is also exploring the potential for synergies between unmanned solutions and other innovative technologies, in particular blockchain. In September 2018, reports surfaced that Walmart had filed a patent for a drone communications system based on distributed registry technology. Another Walmart patent describes the use of drones as in-store sellers for customers.

Mercedes-Benz

In November 2017, it became known about the successful completion of a large-scale Mercedes-Benz testing program UAV for the delivery of everyday goods in. Switzerland

The program lasted three weeks, from September 25 to October 13, 2017, according to the press service of Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz. During this time, the drones completed 100 flights and delivered small purchases to specialist Mercedes vans in different parts of Zurich. As part of the experimental service, a high level of security was demonstrated, and the concern plans to expand flights in 2018, Bloomberg reports.^[20] Read more here.

3 years in prison for smuggling marijuana

A drug dealer named Charlie Adifiyi, who with the help of a drone tried to smuggle a cargo of marijuana and cell phones into one of London's prisons, himself got into places not so distant. The British edition of the Daily Mail learned about this in November 2017.^[21]

The incident occurred in August 2016. A contraband drone flying into the grounds of London's Pentonville Prison spotted outdoor CCTV cameras. The drone was intercepted by officers of the Operation Airborne unit, which is responsible for protecting the airspace around the prison. Read more here.

SKYF Unmanned Air Cargo Platform

Russian Post and Skyf plan to test the delivery of parcels using drones at the end of 2017. This was reported to the press by the director of Skyf Dmitry Arsentiev. The company will provide an unmanned air cargo platform with vertical take-off and landing with a maximum cargo weight of up to 250 kg. The maximum range of a drone with a cargo of 50 kg will be 350 km, and the duration - up to eight hours.

Sberbank plans to use drones to deliver material assets. In June 2017, an experimental drone successfully delivered cash from a cash center to a collection car. The speed of the drone was 180 km/h. As Lev Khasis, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Sberbank, assured, the tests will continue. The Central Bank of Russia should allow the use of drones to deliver material assets to banks.

In the spring of 2017, the Swiss logistics company Matternet received permission to launch a delivery service using drones. The first Matternet stations will serve hospitals and medical centers in the country. The delivery time of medical materials will be half an hour. Health care institutions will be able to transport blood and test samples between branches. Matternet guides drones to the exact landing point on the station's platform. After landing, the drone is fixed on the platform, its battery is replaced, and the cargo is taken only after scanning the QR code^[22].

Gazprom Neft

For the first time, Gazprom Neft delivered cargo to a remote field using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The project was implemented jointly by specialists of Gazpromneft-Supply and Gazpromneft-Noyabrskneftegaz with the support of the research and production enterprise Radar mms. See more here.

Since 2015, Gazprom Neft has been conducting commercial operation of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor the operation of pressure oil pipelines. UAVs provide control over the integrity of intrafield highways, including in remote areas of fields. The use of modern equipment makes it possible to monitor the condition of pipelines in real time and significantly reduce environmental risks, including during the fire hazard period.

Unmanned maritime vessels in Japan

The Japanese company Mitsui OSK Lines (Mitsui ou-kei lines), a leading global manufacturer of sea freight transport and tankers, together with another company Nippon Yusen (Nippon Yusen) plans to begin equipping its vessels with unmanned control systems by 2025 as part of a project to reduce the number of incidents at sea. This was reported by the Nikkei newspaper^[23] created^[24].

It is assumed that the control system using artificial intelligence will be connected to the "Internet of Things," which will allow it to instantly collect information about the weather, technical condition of the vessel, obstacles on the way, analyze them and, depending on this, change the course and speed of movement. The main goal will be the absolute exclusion of ship collisions in the global field of maritime transportation, as well as increasing efficiency and, as a result, reducing emissions of harmful gases.

According to the plan, Japanese companies want to build about 250 ships equipped with the new system by 2025. The cost of the project is estimated at several hundred million dollars. This should increase the demand for advanced technologies and arouse interest among world freight carriers, which will contribute to the return of Japan's lost positions among shipbuilding states. Nippon Yusen has already begun studying technologies to prevent collisions of sea vessels, and other companies are working to create a technical failure prediction system that conducts a continuous analysis of the condition of the ship.

Japan, due to population decline and labor shortages, is now actively studying unmanned control technologies in order to solve the impending problem through fully automatic equipment. First of all, changes are planned to be made to agriculture, most of all suffering from the outflow of workers. Ground transport should become another area for the introduction of drones. Already in this financial year (i.e. until March 2018) it is planned to test self-driving trucks in normal conditions. If the experiment is completed successfully, then they may appear on Japanese roads by 2020.

The fiercest struggle for the earliest possible creation of passenger unmanned vehicles unfolded between Japanese automakers. They are actively supported by the government, because, according to the idea, this will help elderly people living in areas remote from the center to visit, for example, a doctor or go to shops, as well as reduce the number of accidents.

Delivery of goods by drones in Reykjavik

On August 23, it became known about the launch in Reykjavik of the world's first service for the delivery of goods using drones, CNBC reports.^[25]

Now residents of the Icelandic capital can receive food and other purchased goods right at the doorstep of their homes. According to the organizers of the service, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will significantly reduce the delivery time of orders.

Reykjavik is a coastal town that is divided by a vast bay and several small rivers. Because of this, the transportation of goods turns into a difficult and time-consuming task.

UAVs will help make a difference. According to Yariv Bash, the head and co-founder of the Israeli startup Flytrex, which organized the drone delivery service, buyers will be able to receive goods almost as quickly as they order.

The service is currently available to AHA customers, Iceland's largest online marketplace. In the future, the experience is planned to be extended to other countries.

The launch of the service marks a victory for supporters of unmanned technologies. To date, the AHA has recorded a 60 per cent reduction in drone delivery costs compared to traditional land and sea transport methods. It is also reported that drones help save up to 20 minutes when delivered during peak hours.

Earlier, permission to launch the service was given by the Icelandic Transport Authority. The regulator said the service would improve road safety.

The use of drones will reduce the burden on transport infrastructure, which will make roads safer. At the same time, a better and faster delivery service will become available to people, which is also an advantage, the department said.

However, critics of unmanned technologies continue to argue that such services can pose a threat to the safety and frequent life of people.

Permission in the Russian Federation for commercial transportation

On August 23, information appeared that the Government of the Russian Federation intends to grant owners of light aircraft and drones the right to transport passengers and goods on a commercial basis, Izvestia reports with reference to the road map prepared by the Ministry of Transport^[26]

As you know, in accordance with the current legislation, such devices do not have the right to make commercial transportation, which caused the emergence of "gray" schemes in this sector.

The program, which provides for the creation of conditions for the commercial use of drones and drones, is expected to be developed before the end of September 2017. In particular, the program will spell out certain requirements for organizing transportation by persons who own aircraft with a passenger capacity of up to 19 seats or with a maximum take-off weight of 5.7 tons.

At the same time, the owners of drones and drones presumably will not need to register the airline and issue a certificate of the operator - it can be obtained according to a simplified scheme. The requirements for flight safety will remain standard.

Sberbank and money delivery

In June 2017, for the first time, a Sberbank drone successfully delivered cash from a cash center to a collection car. Lev Khasis, the first deputy chairman of the board of Sberbank, announced this on his Facebook page. See more here.

Taxi drones

In addition to the cargo delivery market, drones promise to seriously transform public transport - drones may well take the place of traditional taxis in the future. So far, this rather applies to the field of deep experiments, but Uber is busy with such research quite seriously. Back in 2017, the company presented a concept for a project of unmanned aerial vehicles for passenger transportation, which was supposed to be implemented by 2020. And the problem of traffic jams in cities of the company was openly compared with the lack of sites for the construction of residential and office buildings, which was solved in the United States with the help of skyscrapers, and it was called drones the future frontier of personal transport development. Yes, in 2018, the company's focus shifted to more practical solutions, such as delivering Uber Eats orders using drones. At the same time, Uber never abandoned the futuristic vision of autonomous flying taxis. In June 2019, the company announced plans to launch flying taxis in Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth by 2023, and tests will begin as early as^[27].

Russian startup and flying taxis for Singapore

In March 2018, it became known that the residents of Singapore will have the opportunity to return home from work in a flying taxi. According to the New York Post, citing the Singapore edition of the Business Times, the country's Ministry of Transport is in talks with several technology companies about conducting test flights of unmanned taxi drones. Among them is the Russian company Hover Surf.

Drones and detection of traffic violations in Russia

Tests of drones to control traffic rules on the roads in some constituent entities of Russia began in 2011-2012, but their use was not widespread and was not regulated. In the regulation on the supervision of compliance with the requirements in the field of road safety, issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2009, and its later versions, the use of drones was not spelled out. See below The use of unmanned aerial vehicles to identify traffic violations in Russia.

"Patrolling" office space

In December 2017, the T-Frend service was presented in Japan using a drone, which will help solve the problem of many hours of employee re-working that is relevant for the country.

Combat robots and drones

Main article: Combat robots and drones

Drones in the service of law enforcement agencies

One of the first to use drones for law enforcement was the US police. So far, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized more than 74 government agencies to use drones in the country's airspace, 17 of which are law enforcement. The most famous among them are Montgomery County in Texas, Mesa County Sheriff's Department in Colorado and Grand Forks from North Dakota^[28].

The permission of the FAA allowed the security forces to absolutely legally use drones to conduct a detailed survey of crime scenes and search for injured people. However, the American police actively attracted the above agencies to work before, until the agencies received the necessary legal rights. It is known that since 2013, the Grand Forks group has managed to process about 30 requests from law enforcement agencies, including 4 cases of collecting data on suicide circumstances. Drones even found the body of a missing hunter.

US police officers are also trying to use drones in more complex operations, such as surveillance of potentially dangerous criminals. However, here American legislatures need to work out in detail the legal framework. Thus, in the first recommendations on the use of drones in law enforcement agencies, which were issued in May 2015, it was especially emphasized that "respect for the rights and freedoms of citizens is a key quality of democracy." The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution protects citizens from unmotivated search and surveillance, and this fact significantly limits the ability of American police officers to use drones.

Much smaller legal problems are experienced in this matter by law enforcement agencies in the UK, where, as you know, police surveillance systems for citizens are among the most highly developed in the world. Recently, information was leaked to the press that British police began to use almost silent Black Hawk multicopters, which allow video recording with sound.

It also became known about the plans of the British police to use drones in operations to prosecute criminals. According to various estimates, this will cost the security forces much cheaper and safer than the use of motorcycles, cars and helicopters. Buying a drone and operating it for a long time will cost less than one chase using a helicopter (which is far from always possible) and two police cars. In addition to this, the use of drones does not threaten the lives of police officers.

The first successful use of the quadcopter by the British police became known back in February 2010, when, using an AirRobot AR100B equipped with a video surveillance system and a thermal imaging camera, the security forces of Merseyside in western England were able to find a car thief in a thick fog. Similar drones are still used in the UK. It is known that the technology of the apparatus was originally developed for the needs of military intelligence. It is practically silent, and can work at night, transmitting the image in real time.

In France and Japan, drones are actively used to remotely monitor "crowds of people." Of particular interest, however, are the individual units that are being set up in these countries to deal with cases of unauthorized drone use. In particular, the Tokyo police recently stated that quadcopters that violate certain flight rules will be caught using special large drones. The principle of operation here is extremely simple: a network measuring about 2x3 meters is attached to a large quadcopter from below. Further, such a device catches up with small violating drones and, having caught them with a network, takes them out of the forbidden zone.

For the first time in practice, such a method of catching violating drones was tested in February 2016. From that moment on, the "trapping drones" regularly serve in the ranks of the security forces. According to the Tokyo police, the main goal of such work is to protect important locations "taking into account the worst possible scenarios," from which it can be concluded that this is perhaps not so much about the neutralization of paparazzi drones monitoring the privacy of celebrities as about countering a serious threat from terrorist drones armed with explosives. In modern conditions, the thing is very relevant, especially considering that according to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, cases of the use of drones filled with explosives in Syria are already known. Also this summer, the FSB already warned of terrorists' plans to use drones to carry out terrorist attacks in Europe.

Development prospects

Police do not use drones to carry out really complex special operations. Work on the practical use of drones is carried out pointwise, which will make it possible to understand their real potential. However, according to many experts, the prospects for police drones can be very optimistic. Without any doubt, it can be stated that by supplementing drones with various types of weapons, the possibilities of their use in law enforcement agencies will significantly increase.

Armed drones can become a truly formidable force against criminals, and for this, a legislative framework is already being worked out in some countries. For example, the legislative bodies of North Dakota (USA) back in August 2015 allowed security forces to use any weapon on drones except firearms. In other words, the police of this state were able to supplement drones with firing stun guns, powerful gas sprayers and traumatic weapons firing rubber bullets.

Experiments are underway to equip police drones with gas canisters. Moreover, the French company Drone Volt mass-produces the TEAR GAS drone, which is designed to spray gas or pepper extract. However, nothing is known about such a practical use of drones - the French security forces are still using these devices only for remote monitoring of "clusters of people."

It should be noted that the potential for using drones in the ranks of law enforcement officers may be limited not so much technically as legally. Thus, the American Civil Liberties Union ACLU has already expressed concern that the armament of police drones could cause unreasonable use of weapons, since the drone operator is not personally present at the scene, which means it will not be able to adequately navigate the situation. There are also active discussions with civil rights organizations about the legality of using drones to monitor suspects. Is the surveillance of potential criminals an invasion of their privacy and are there any exceptions in such cases?

Law enforcement and legislative bodies of various countries have yet to resolve legal issues related to the possibilities of using drones. However, it is already obvious that the capabilities of the security forces with the involvement of drones will increase many times over. To date, the following options for the use of drones by power structures can be distinguished:

• Preventive video surveillance
• Control of mass events
• Ensuring VIP meetings, including summits
• Prevention of terrorist acts
• Control of protests
• Organized Crime Operations
• Operations to capture criminals
• The search for missing people
• Studying the crime scene
• Online Communication Support
• Preventing illegal immigration
• Monitoring of land and sea lines of regular communication
• Traffic monitoring
• Accident Cause Analysis
• Tracking stolen cars
• Fighting sea pirates
• Prevention of Illegal Subsoil Development

2021: Dubai police begin using drones to patrol and spy on suspect

In late July 2021, an Israeli Airobotics development company unmanned aerial vehicles struck a deal to help Dubai Police make the city safer for locals and guests ahead of a regional business conference. More. here

Drones in rescue and search operations for missing people

Main article: Drones in rescue and search operations for missing people

Dutch police curtail program to use eagles to capture drones

In December 2017, it became known that the Dutch police had curtailed a program to train interceptor eagles to catch unwanted drones. The project failed due to the high cost, the difficulty of training birds and the behavior of predators.

The experimental program was announced in January 2016. As part of the project, Dutch police purchased eagles and hired instructors to train them, Gizmodo reports, citing Dutch Internet resources NOS and NLTime.^[29]

According to the idea of ​ ​ the Dutch police, having noticed an intruder UAV in the wrong place, for example, over a large crowd of people during a mass event, the eagles had to intercept them and carry them to a certain place.

However, in the course of training, it turned out that birds do not always perform what is required of them. That raised serious doubts about whether the Eagles would be able to accomplish their task in real-world conditions rather than on the practice field.

In addition, animal rights activists expressed fears that when intercepting drones, birds could be seriously injured by drone blades, and trainers who knew the habits of these predators warned that without catching the UAV, the eagle could attack nearby people.

Probably, for all these reasons, the use of interceptor eagles in practice did not reach, although bird instructors were on duty at several mass events in Rotterdam and Brussels.

As a result, at the end of 2017, the Dutch police decided to abandon further work in this direction and look for other ways to intercept unwanted drones.

Meanwhile, NOS reviewers note that local police recently shut down another experimental program that involved the use of rats to search for illegal pyrotechnics and the remains of human bones. According to law enforcement officers, it turned out to be unrealistic to prepare rodents to work for the police.^[30]

Robots disguised as pigeons began surveillance of the population

At the end of June 2018, it became known that in China, robots disguised as pigeons began to spy on the population.

Radio-controlled aircraft, which are part of a program called Dove, are already used by military organizations and authorities in five provinces in China.

The wingspan of robotic birds reaches 50 cm and, they can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h. In addition, the devices are equipped with a GPS module, a speed sensor, a downward-facing high-resolution camera and an antenna with which operators can control the movements of the bird. Robots also have a communication channel with the ability to communicate with a satellite.

According to the Independent, these robots were developed by researchers at Northwestern Polytechnic University in Shaanxi province, who previously worked on stealth fighters used by the Chinese air force. Lengthy tests were conducted before the program was deployed. Robots are extremely realistic and when viewed from the ground, they are almost impossible to distinguish from a real bird.

The aircraft are equipped with an advanced flight control system that corrects unnatural movements, allowing the robots to appear as believable as possible, while providing high-quality video shooting.

Researchers who are working on the program reported that the use of such robots is still very limited. The technology is still in its earliest stages of development and can be hampered by strong winds, rain or snow. It is also subject to electromagnetic interference. Nevertheless, developers have high hopes for its widespread distribution in the future of both the civilian and military industries.^[31]

Drones and Mineral Prospecting

Scientists at the Irkutsk National Research Technical University (IrNITU) announced in early 2017 innovative methods for finding large diamonds without using X-rays. Based on the obtained technologies, it is planned to create a special quadcopter that will explore the upper layer of the deposit and find diamonds.

Project manager Alexander Nemarov said that drones can travel long distances and operate smoothly for a long time, and therefore they are ideal for analyzing deposits. In addition, unlike X-ray machines, quadcopters work autonomously, which excludes the human factor, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of error (not to mention the fact that workers of diamond mining companies sometimes hide the stones found, which the robot is simply not capable of). At the same time, the new method will be environmentally safe, and the cost of drones during mass production will be 30-50% lower than that of X-ray devices.

Drones in agriculture

Main article: Drones in Agriculture

Main article Digitalization in the agro-industrial complex of Russia.

Drones have started picking fruit from shit

At the end of October 2020, the Israeli manufacturer of agricultural drones Tevel Aerobotics Technologies completed a funding round of $20 million, thanks to which the company is implementing a commercial project to launch drones that collect fruits. The company is valued by investors at $45 million. Read more here.

Mafia uses drones to infect cattle with plague

At the end of December 2019, one of the largest Chinese manufacturers of animal feed, Dabeinong Technology Group, said that it used a radio transmitter to combat mafia groups that infect pigs with fever with drones. Read more here.

China's new grassroots profession is an agricultural drone operator

By the end of March 2019, a new emerging profession appeared in China - the operator of agricultural drones. The demand for them is growing as the technology develops, because a qualified specialist is able to serve a much larger area than an ordinary employee. Ironically, the spread of the new profession is also aided by a lack of rural labor.

Many young Chinese leave their homes in poorer rural areas to take factories in the Zhujiang or Yangtze River deltas or other less skilled jobs. Elderly farmers who remain at home often cannot independently cultivate the soil and harvest, and therefore prefer to lease their land to large companies. Those in turn consolidate the resulting plots and, to increase yields and save money, deploy the latest technologies in these territories - for example, use agricultural drones. China is not alone in this endeavor: other countries, such as Japan, are known to also turn to drones, as younger generations are unwilling to work on conventional farms.

Taking advantage of this trend, DJI, which controls 70% of the global commercial drone market, has redirected most of its resources to industrial drone development. DJI introduced drones in 2018, including the Mavic 2 and Agras MG-1, as intended for the industrial segment.

Drone operators are just one example of a growing number of new occupations. The popularity of vehicle sharing has led to a growing number of drivers, while food delivery apps such as Ele.me groups Alibaba and Meituan Dianping have created jobs for couriers in the Chinese market.^[32]

Drones power plants

The Dutch company Ampyx Power announced in the spring of 2017 the development of a new type of power plant, in which tethered unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type will be responsible for the generation of electricity. According to Aviation Week, in 2018 the company plans to show a prototype power plant with a capacity of 250 kilowatts, and in 2020 - to present the first system with a capacity of two megawatts^[33].

The Netherlands has a high share of wind energy use. To do this, wind farms with propellers are installed in the country off the coast. Since December 2016, a 600-megawatt wind farm built according to the Gemini project has been operating in experimental mode off the coast of Dutch Friesland.

All wind farms, the design of which may vary, operate according to the general principle. The airflows rotate the propeller, which in turn drives the generator. Energy from the generator is supplied to the substation where the voltage is stabilized. From there, electricity enters the energy company, and then is redirected to end consumers.

According to the Ampyx Power project, the power plants will be small platforms. Unmanned aerial vehicles will be attached to them using a retractable cable. During the wind, these drones will take off, and the stronger the air flows, the higher the devices will rise.

Having gained altitude, the drones will either fly around the platform in a circle or describe the eight. At the same time, the devices will begin to rise and decline, and the cable will be pulled out of the platform and pulled back in. The cable drum is supposed to be attached to the generator. Thus pulling in and pulling out the cable will rotate the drum and drive the generator.

The drone project for the new power plant was designated AP3. It is assumed that this will be a device with a wingspan of about 12 meters. It will be performed according to a two-beam scheme. The drone is planned to be certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency. This device will be used in the 250-kilowatt version of the power plant. Two-megawatt - will receive a device with a wingspan of 20 meters.

Drones in medicine

• Drones and drones in medicine

Drones in construction

Main article: Drones in construction

Drones in insurance

For insurance companies around the world, a quick and objective assessment of damage within the framework of the insured event remains a serious problem. This includes assessments within the framework of claims related to extreme weather events, when timely access to facilities may be a difficult task. The use of unmanned solutions also promises to help in this case. Allstate Insurance has been testing this possibility since 2015, becoming a partner in the company for the production of aerial photographs EagleView Technologies. She had already tested drones in 2016 to assess damage following a natural disaster in San Antonio, Texas - then a powerful storm hit the area, and the total loss was estimated at $1.4 billion. While the test was intended to determine the viability of the technology and customer perceptions of the service, the drones also helped identify damage to Allstate Insurance's customer property.

Drones in metallurgy

Main article: Drones in metallurgy

Russia

• Unmanned aerial vehicles in Russia
• Military drones in Russia
• Infrastructure for unmanned aerial vehicles in Russia

China

• Main article: Drones in China

USA

• Main article: UAVs in the United States

India

• Main article: UAVs in India

Kazakhstan

• Main article: UAVs in Kazakhstan

World

2024

Sales of the world's first devices for scaring birds from power lines have begun

On November 25, 2024, Preformed Line Products (PLP) announced the release of the world's first UAV kit designed to automatically install bird repellent devices from power lines (power lines). The solution is suitable for DJI M300/M350 drones, which are widely used by energy companies in different countries. Read more here.

Sales of an SUV with a drone built into the roof have begun. UAV can be controlled from the car interior

At the end of November 2024, it became known that the Chinese company BYD Auto began selling the premium Yangwang U8 SUV equipped with a hybrid power plant. The peculiarity of the car is the presence of a drone port integrated into the roof. Read more here

Pocket folding mini-drones have been released that fly without human control. Video

At the end of August 2024, Zero Zero Robotics announced the HoverAir X1 Pro and HoverAir X1 ProMax folding mini-drones, which are positioned as a flying alternative to action cameras. The peculiarity of the devices is that they are able to fly without human control. Read more here

A flying drone is presented to inspect the mines. Video

In mid-August 2024, Fiberscope introduced an unmanned aerial vehicle called the Skycopter Cobra. It is an inspection drone designed to operate underground and indoors. The drone can be used, in particular, to inspect mines. Read more here

UAV is presented that can land on trees and poles

In mid-July 2024, Swiss researchers from the Lausanne Federal Polytechnic School (EPFL) unveiled an unmanned aerial vehicle called the PercHug. The peculiarity of this drone is that it can sit on trees and poles. Read more here.

A " flexible" drone is presented, capable of squeezing through gaps. Video

At the end of June 2024, the laboratory for the development of autonomous robots of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology presented a custom-made "flexible" Morphy drone, capable of squeezing through gaps. If previously similar drones tried to make foldable, this time the inventors relied on new materials. Read more here

Rocket-powered drone flying at 1000km/h introduced

Venus Aerospace's Stargazer drone passed its first tests. The drone reached speeds of more than 1,100 km/h (691 miles/h) in flight. This was announced on April 2, 2024 by the Robb Report. Read more here.

Cargo drone is presented, capable of transferring 250 kg directly on 960 km pallets

In mid-January 2024, California-based Traverse Aero Corporation unveiled a cargo drone called the Orca. The peculiarity of this machine is that it is capable of transporting goods laid on standard-sized transport pallets by air. Read more here.

Hyundai introduced serial electric air taxi with a range of 64 km

In early January 2024, Supernal, a division of the corporation's electric aircraft, Hyundai announced serial air taxi S-A2. The pilot controls this air vehicle, and there is space for four passengers in the cockpit. More. here

2023

The first special SIM cards for drones entered the market

On October 12, 2023, the British telecommunications company BT announced the release of the first specialized SIM cards intended for use in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The pieces, called Drone SIM, are said to help "unlock the true potential of drones beyond line of sight." Read more here.

New cellular protocol for cargo drones created

On February 1, 2023, the Fraunhofer Telecommunications Institute in Germany announced the development of a new cellular communication protocol for cargo unmanned aerial vehicles. The technology is called SUCOM. Read more here.

Russia entered the top three countries in the number of patents for drones

The number of patent applications for technologies related to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) increased by about 16% from 2022 to 2023. If in 2022 about 16.8 thousand such documents were registered, then in 2023 - 19.7 thousand. The top five countries most active in registering drone inventions include China, Russia and the United States. Such data are contained in the materials of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), released at the end of April 2024.

The number of registered patents for drones is growing against the background of the current geopolitical situation. Former US Department of Defense analyst Marcel Plichta calls the observed trend "part of a new global arms race." According to him, the use of drones for military purposes is stimulated by the development of the technological sector.

The number of patent applications for technologies related to unmanned aerial vehicles increased by 16% between 2022 and 2023.

According to WIPO, cited by The Independent, Russia in the period from 2022 to 2024 registered 342 patents for UAV developments. For comparison, Ukraine for the same period sent only 4 patent applications in the field of drones. About 82% of all patent applications in the area in question filed since 2015 are registered by Chinese companies. And in 2023, 87% of such applications were received from the PRC. The United States is in second place in the number of inventions in the field of UAVs: American developers filed 858 patent applications in 2023 and 5631 since 2015.

One of the key players in the market as of early 2024 is Chinese drone manufacturer DJI. As Plichta notes, the drones of this company are very popular due to the relatively low cost, small size, as well as the possibility of equipping with a camera and explosives.^[34]

Batteries for drones with ultra-fast charging are presented. 80% in 3 minutes

Panasonic Corporation is working on fully solid-state batteries for unmanned aerial vehicles with ultra-fast charging - up to 80% in just three minutes. This was reported on September 12 by Nikkei Asia. Read more here.

Belarus introduced a ban for individuals on the import, storage, circulation, operation and manufacture of drones

On September 25, 2023, the head of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, signed Decree No. 297 "On State Registration and Operation of Civilian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles." The document is aimed at ensuring public safety and regulating the procedure for state registration of civilian unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft models, as well as their use.

It is provided that the import into the territory of Belarus, storage, circulation, operation and manufacture of civilian UAVs is allowed only to organizations and individual entrepreneurs for the purpose of their entrepreneurial and professional activities in compliance with the requirements established by this Decree.

For the import by organizations and individual entrepreneurs of civilian UAVs, it is necessary to obtain the appropriate permission from the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which will organize the registration of such UAVs available to organizations and individual entrepreneurs.

The Decree also provides for the creation of an automated information system for state accounting of civil UAVs belonging to legal entities and (or) individual entrepreneurs.

The document establishes a ban for individuals on the import into the territory of Belarus, storage, circulation, operation and manufacture of civilian UAVs.

In terms of import, operation and manufacture of UAVs by individuals, the Decree comes into force after its official publication, and in terms of storage and circulation - after six months.

Within six months from the date of the official publication of the Decree, individuals can realize the UAVs they have available to organizations or individual entrepreneurs or transfer them for storage to an authorized organization determined by the Government^[35].

Drone is presented that can land on vertical walls and climb them

In early August 2023, Chinese researchers from the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) reported the development of an insect robot capable of flying, landing on vertical walls, climbing and taking off. Read more here.

Introduced the world's first drone with wings that transform depending on wind flows

On May 5, 2023, the Lausanne Federal Polytechnic School (EPFL) announced the creation of the world's first unmanned aerial vehicle, which is able to reconfigure its own wings to reduce resistance to wind gusts. Read more here.

In Portugal, begin to use drones to destroy the eggs of gulls and aggressive birds

In early February 2023, the Porto authorities decided to fight the breeding gulls with drones. Drones will fly over the birds' nests and spray their eggs with a mixture of vegetable oil and paraffin. The project will also help fight aggressive birds. Read more here.

A drone with a stun gun is presented

At the end of January 2023, new information appeared about the Axon project, known for its Taser stun guns, to create armed drones to ensure school safety. It is reported that it is too early to put an end to this initiative. Read more here.

2022

Start using drone to find sources of harmful emissions

On November 14, 2022, it became known that Japanese researchers developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of recognizing and tracking certain odors in the surrounding space. The novelty has already begun to be used in practical activities.

Drones capable of detecting traces of various chemical compounds in the air, for example, harmful substances, can be in demand in different situations - after dangerous accidents at man-made facilities, explosions, etc. But the creation of such drones is fraught with a number of difficulties: it is necessary to effectively integrate complex components - high-performance chemical sensors, a deep learning system, a reliable robotic platform and an onboard motion planner.

A way to solve the problem was found by researchers from Osaka University, Tokyo Institute of Technology and SoftBank Corporation. Scientists have developed a small drone that can quite effectively track plumes of chemicals. The onboard sensor system is based on an air flow imaging technology known as particle image velocimetry. The essence of the method is to simultaneously measure the velocity field of the entire area of ​ ​ air flow.

The drone is the size of a palm and is made in the form of a quadcopter. To record traces of chemicals in three-dimensional space, the researchers placed two sensors in the front and on top. Experiments have shown that the UAV effectively monitors odors even in conditions when the wind direction is constantly changing. Now experts want to improve the design of the drone so that it can perform work in any surrounding environment, including in heavily cluttered spaces. The drone can find applications in fields ranging from search and rescue operations to environmental protection.^[36]

Geneva police stop using eagles to intercept drones

On November 6, 2022, it became known that the Swiss city of Geneva stopped its Eagle Brigade anti-drone program, which was aimed at training birds of prey to intercept mechanical drones in the air and protect dignitaries. Read more here.

Silent drone with ion engine introduced

On September 20, 2022, Undefined Technologies announced that its Silent Ventus ion-powered drone had successfully completed a test flight within 4 and a half minutes and noise levels below 75 dB. This event marks the readiness of the drone for commercial use. Versions of the products for civilian and military applications are expected to be released. Read more here.

China has developed a roadmap for the development of the drone market

On August 23, 2022, the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) released a detailed plan outlining the targets the regulator wants to achieve by 2025, 2030 and 2035 to become the largest unmanned aerial vehicle market in the world, closing the gap to the United States. Read more here.

World's first laser-controlled drone unveiled

At the end of July 2022, the British defense company QinetiQ demonstrated the world's first laser-controlled drone, which can evade anti-drone systems (UAVs). Read more here.

The world's first hydraulic drone has been developed. It can fly 900km

At the end of February 2022, Flowcopter announced the world's first hydraulic drone, which is designed to eliminate the shortcomings of conventional drones, such as the range and weight of the payload. The estimated flight time of the device is up to six hours, the flight range is up to 900 km, and for short-distance flights it can carry a payload of 150 kg. Read more here.

Drone delivery service launched in Singapore

On February 13, 2022, ST Engineering announced the launch of the DroNet platform for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in order to deliver cargo from shore to a ship in Singapore. Partners in this project were Sumitomo Corporation and Skyports. Read more here.

2021

Announcement of drone with ultrasonic engine

In mid-November 2021, the Japanese NTT Docomo introduced inflatable drones similar to airships that move using an ultrasonic engine system. The company has a much simpler idea, which is to get rid of the blades completely. Read more here.

5G-enabled drone platform announcement

In mid-August 2021, Qualcomm introduced a system for creating drones with support for 5G networks and artificial intelligence. In particular, the platform, called Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G, aims to accelerate the development of commercial, corporate and industrial drones that will help enterprises collect data from cameras and process this data at the edge of the network. Read more here.

DJI starts selling flagship agricultural drones

In August 2021, agricultural drones DJI Agras T30 and T10 became available for purchase in more than 100 countries around the world. Meanwhile, the manufacturer has already sold more than 50 thousand Agras devices around the world in 2021 alone during a phased launch. More. here

4G drone announcement

In early August 2021, Verizon Parrot and Skyward announced a collaboration aimed at creating the first unmanned aerial vehicle 4G connected to the LTE network. This allows you to control drones from anywhere. More. here

In Dubai, began to cause artificial rains using drones

On July 26, 2021, it became known that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) turned to a unique technological solution, its essence is that drones fire electric charges and, as a result, help to cause precipitation. Read more here.

Drones with ExynAI system began to move without using GPS

At the end of April 2021, Exyn Technologies announced that it had reached the fourth level of autonomy of unmanned aerial vehicles. Drones using the proprietary ExynAI system are able to independently navigate in space - without using GPS and another satellite navigation system. Read more here.

American Robotics gets permission to launch drones without operator

In mid-January 2021, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted American Robotics permission to launch civilian multicopters without the need for a nearby operator. Drones will be able to take off from the stationary terminal and return back without the participation of the operator, but each flight should still be carried out under the supervision of the manager. Read more here.

2020

Announcement of a drone firing sensors

At the end of November 2020, a team of aerobotechnics specialists from Imperial College London introduced a drone that can quickly and accurately shoot darts. The unmanned aerial vehicle used by scientists is used as a launch platform for laser darts equipped with sensors. Read more here.

Sony launches drone development project

Sony Corporation (Sony Corporation) on November 10, 2020 announced the launch of a project in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics for the development of drones. Read more here.

Drones with thermal imagers began to monitor wildlife to find sick animals

At the end of May 2020, it became known how drones with thermal imagers began to monitor koalas and kangaroos to search for sick animals. Australia's wildlife is threatened by disease and bushfires, but now, thanks to drones and thermal imaging technology, specialists can monitor the movement of animals to ensure their safety.

BBC Click correspondent Nick Kwek joined a team looking for kangaroos and koalas to talk about their activities. Previously, these Westpac Little Ripper researchers used thermal imagers to study coastal marine life for three years.

The team works before dawn - this is the coldest part of the day, and the ambient temperature drops so much that it is not difficult to detect large enough warm-blooded mammals using thermal imagers. At this time, even the dense foliage of trees does not hide them, and drones can fly around vast areas without fear of missing sick animals. In addition, the temperature difference between animals allows you to distinguish species that are similar in size.

Dr Grant Gamilton of Queensland University of Technology provided software to monitor koalas using drones. He developed an algorithm that automatically detects the presence of animals in images from a thermal imager camera using computer vision. Initially, the algorithm could not find differences between koalas, kangaroos and humans, but with the help of deep learning, it learned to fulfill the task and can now identify koalas in drone images faster than humans.

With this software, researchers are looking for animals that move differently from how to assemble them - not so efficiently, not so quickly, use unusual patterns of movement. If they are not frightened or trying to escape when a drone or person approaches, then the researchers suspect that this individual is sick and transmits information to Australian rescuers working with wild animals.^[37]

China is the first in the world to allow heavy passenger drones

On May 27, 2020, it became known that the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued permission to the local company EHang Holdings to launch unmanned civilian air vehicles. This is the first such issued rarefaction in the world. Read more here.

Intuitive drone control system goes on sale

In mid-May 2020, Shift Red drone control systems went on sale, which the developers - This Is Engineering - call the most intuitive in the world. The solution can be used for the manufacturer's own UAVs, as well as with third-party equipment. Read more here.

Delivery of medicines by drones, which are controlled from anywhere on the planet, is organized

At the end of March 2020, the Melbourne company Swoop Aero organized the delivery of medicines to inaccessible areas using drones that can be controlled from anywhere on the planet. Read more here.

Keys when buying a new car began to be delivered by drones

In February 2020, Geely Auto launched an online home delivery car purchase program. At the end of March, the company began not only to completely disinfect the purchased car, but also to offer key delivery using drones. Read more here.

Drones begin delivering 3D-printed parts directly to ships

In mid-February 2020, drones first began delivering 3D printed parts to ships. This project began to be implemented by the shipping company Wilhelmsen. Read more here.

DJI drones disinfecting streets in the fight against coronavirus launched in China

In February 2020, while the Chinese authorities are trying to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the manufacturer drones DJI is helping to disinfect the streets. According to local MEDIA, volunteers, the company processed 3 million square meters in just four days. Spraying with the disinfectant solution was carried out from February 7 to 10 in the southern city of Shenzhen, where DJI is headquartered. The drones covered a wide area including factories, residential areas, hospitals and treatment plants. More. here

Drones launched in China to report people without protective masks

In early February 2020, China launched special drones with loudspeakers that remind citizens of security rules, compliance with which should contain the outbreak of coronavirus. Read more here.

Madrid airport closed due to drones

On February 3, 2020, Adolfo Suarez International Airport in Madrid (Spain) temporarily suspended flights due to drones seen in the immediate vicinity of runways. Read more here.

2019

The first tests of a drone running on hydrogen fuel passed

At the end of December 2019, the first tests of an unmanned aerial vehicle running not on lithium batteries, but on hydrogen fuel were held. The developers believe that such drones are the future of air travel. Read more here.

Drones began to distinguish living people from the dead

In late October 2019, researchers from Australia and Iraq unveiled a drone that can distinguish living people from the dead. Read more here.

Drones began to be used to lay the roof

At the end of September 2019, researchers from the University of Michigan presented a drone for roofing. Equipped with a nail gun, the octocopter is able to easily fix the tiles on the roof layout. Read more here.

Man drops drone bombs on his ex-girlfriend's home

In mid-September 2019 drone DJI , prosecutors in the eastern district of Pennsylvania talked about how a 43-year-old man used a Phantom 3 to drop pipe bombs on an ex-girlfriend's home. There was a small explosion. More. here

Swiss mail stops drone delivery after UAV crash a stone's throw from children

At the end of July 2019, the Swiss Postal Service (Swiss Post) decided to refuse to deliver mail by drones after one of the unmanned aerial vehicles fell a stone's throw from children. The potential consequences of the failure of UAVs that carry parcels by air turned out to be too serious. Read more here.

Drones began patrolling residential complexes

In early July 2019, residential areas began using drones to patrol the perimeter. A contract for the provision of security services in a number of residential complexes in South Africa by the local government was concluded with Drone Guards. Read more here.

Japan imposed a fine for drunken drone control

In mid-June 2019, Japan introduced a new law according to which the use of a drone while intoxicated can lead to a fine or even imprisonment of up to one year.

The law is designed to curb the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles and concerns drones weighing over 200 grams. Persons driving a drone while intoxicated can receive a fine of up to 300,000 yen (about 180,000 rubles). A spokesman for the Japanese Ministry of Transport justified the introduction of the law by comparing drone control to drunk driving. The consequences, according to the ministry, can be no less serious.

As well as fines for operating a drone while intoxicated, the legislation also imposes penalties on pilots who perform dangerous drone stunts. Persons caught in a steep dive in the direction of people face a fine of up to 500,000 yen (about 300 00 rubles).

In addition, drone owners were banned from using drones within a radius of 300 meters from the facilities of the armed forces of Japan and the United States, as well as any "defense facilities" without obtaining special permission. Earlier, authorities imposed a ban on drone flights near nuclear power plants, Japanese parliament buildings and the prime minister's residence. Stadiums and other venues for the 2020 Olympics are also banned.

Currently, drone owners in Japan do not require a license to use drones, but they are required to comply with a number of rules - drones must not rise above 150 meters, leave the operator's field of view or be used at night. In addition, drones are prohibited from appearing in the airport zone. Violation of these rules faces a fine of up to 500,000 yen.^[38]

Green marmosets borrowed a separate "word" for a drone from vervettes

On May 28, 2019, it became known that German scientists found separate sounds in the communication system of green marmosets (Chlorocebus sabaeus), with the help of which they inform relatives that they saw the drone. The sounds recorded by scientists were not similar to any used by this species, but in terms of spatial and temporal characteristics they turned out to be similar to the cries of vervettes (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) at the sight of danger in the air.

The communication system of social animals is quite diverse: depending on the species and habitat, their lexicon may have sounds signaling the location of food, the presence of danger, or simply their own position. At the same time, it is not clear whether the language of animals is able to develop as quickly as the human one: in other words, it is not known how quickly the necessary cries appear in their lexicon under the influence of a changing environment.

Scientists from the German Center for Primatology led by Julia Fischer decided to check the evolution of the communication system of green marmosets in their natural habitat. They studied a population of marmosets in one of the Senegalese national parks. Researchers report that marmosets living in the area under study never made disturbing noises at the sight of flying objects (such as birds) - partly because they were seen very rarely, and partly because the threat was most likely not seen.

During the experiment, a drone was launched with participating monkeys: monkeys began to scream and hide. After that, the scientists turned on the sound of the drone taking off separately to the monkeys - and compared the spectrograms and their screams in response to it with the sounds that the monkeys made when they heard a leopard or snake.

The marmosets very quickly learned a new "word" and used it at the sound of a drone after the first meeting. Interestingly, in terms of spatial and temporal characteristics, the sound was very different from the one that the monkeys made in response to known threats - a leopard or a snake. Scientists further compared the resulting sounds with the screams of vervets - they were already familiar with the threat from the air and have a communication system similar to green monkeys. It turned out that the cry of green marmosets at the sight of a drone is very similar to the sounds that vervets make when a flying predator approaches.

The authors of the work concluded that, despite the fact that green monkeys borrowed the "word" from a closely related species (that is, in fact, it was not new), its introduction into their lexicon happened quickly enough. This may indicate that the communication system of monkeys, like human language, is a system developing and adapting to changes in the environment.^[39]

Drones start delivering kidneys for transplant

On April 19, 2019, a kidney delivered by a drone was transplanted to a patient for the first time in the world at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The operation was the result of three years of work proving that an unmanned aerial vehicle can safely transport vital organs and tissues. Read more here.

Drones began to be used to monitor the sulfur content in the exhaust of ships

In late April 2019, Denmark began using a drone system to estimate the sulphur content of ship exhausts. The sulfur detection system, commissioned by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), is deployed in the area of ​ ​ the Great Belt Strait, through which large tankers enter the Baltic Sea. Read more here.

Google launched a service for delivering food and goods using drones

On April 8, 2019, in Australia, Google launched a delivery service using unmanned aerial vehicles at the commercial level. The launch of the Wing project was preceded by its testing in Canberra from 2014. Read more here.

Airbus drones start delivering cargo to floating ships

On March 15, 2019, Airbus Group announced the launch, according to the company, of the world's first drones delivering cargo from land to floating ships. Read more here.

Drones with a breakdown will descend by parachute. Standard approved

In January 2019, it became known that Indemnis developed an emergency system for the DJI Inspire 2 drone, which will help keep people safe on the ground by slowly lowering the drone by parachute. The system, called Nexus, is the first of its kind to meet new international safety standards (certified accordingly) and enable drones to fly over humans safely. Read more here.

2018

Britain launches new drone recognition system after 1,000 flights delayed over them

In December 2018, Britain began deploying a new drone recognition system throughout the country after about 1,000 flights were delayed due to such unmanned aerial vehicles and about 140,000 people were injured.

According to SiliconANGLE, citing Security and Economic Crimes Minister Ben Wallace, the new drone detection system is already working, and anyone accused of "thoughtless" drone control or "criminal control" can be "severely" punished.

The ubiquity of such devices, coupled with the challenges of introducing military countermeasures into the civilian environment, means that simple solutions do not exist. However, I can say that now we can deploy detection systems throughout Britain to combat this threat, the minister said.

At the same time, he did not specify how exactly the above systems would deal with the problem of drones. It also remains unclear how long it will take the country to fully install counter-systems.

The British authorities decided to deploy a drone detection system throughout the country after Gatwick Airport was suspended for a total of 36 hours, and about 140 thousand people were injured due to delays and cancellations. A man and a woman were detained on suspicion of involvement in the launch of drones, who were later released without charge. For providing information about the persons involved in the launch of drones, the airport promises a reward of £50,000. Criminals who paralysed Gatwick Airport should face serious punishment, Ben Wallace said.

For the year, Gatwick, located 46 km south of London, serves more than 45 million passengers and until 2017 was considered the world's busiest air harbor with one runway.^[40]

Drones begin delivering vaccines to islands far from civilization

On December 17, 2018, a one-month-old little girl living on the remote island of the Pacific state of Vanuatu became the world's first child to be vaccinated with drugs delivered using a commercial drone.

An unmanned aerial vehicle covered about 40 km over mountainous terrain from the village of Dillons Bay in the western part of Erromango, the fourth largest island in Vanuatu, to the settlement of Cook's Bay on the east coast of the same island. According to The New York Times, the drone delivered vaccines for hepatitis and tuberculosis.

In total, 13 children and five pregnant women were vaccinated during immunization in Cooks Bay, the press service of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), with the support of which vaccination was carried out, said.^[41]

The drugs delivered drones to Australian company Swoop Aero, which the Vanuatu government had previously contracted to transport vital vaccines to children in remote areas of the island nation.

Transporting vaccines is difficult due to the need to comply with the temperature regime. In the case of Vanuatu, transportation is further hampered by a hot climate and difficult terrain: the state has more than 80 remote islands with a mountainous landscape, which extend for 1300 km.

Carrying containers with vaccines and ice to cool them is very difficult, because on the way you have to cross rivers, climb mountains, go through the rain and along rocky ledges. I count on a boat crossing, but due to bad weather, it often does not work, "nurse Miriam Nampil, who administered the vaccines delivered by the drone, complained to reporters through an interpreter. She added that thanks to drones, her life will now change.[42]

The flight of a drone carrying drugs in boxes of styrofoam with cold cells and a temperature recorder took 25 minutes, while it takes several hours to deliver on foot and by boat.

In the long term, the Vanuatu government plans to include drone vaccine delivery in the national immunization program.

Drone pierces nose of Boeing 737 coming to land

In December 2018, it became known that a Boeing 737-800 passenger plane owned by Aeromexico suffered damage to the bow during landing at Tijuana Airport in Mexico. The reason for this was a collision with an unmanned aerial vehicle. Read more here.

Drones begin patrolling the largest coral reef and killing dangerous wildlife

On September 3, 2018, a team of researchers launched a drone that will patrol the Great Barrier Reef and kill animals that destroy it. Read more here.

Japanese driving schools begin training in drone control

At the end at the end of August 2018, it became known that more and more Japanese driving schools, instead of specialized courses, offer lessons in training in drone control skills. This helps driving schools stay afloat amid low demand for driving courses. Plus, this is how the country is preparing for the high demand for operators with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the future. Read more here.

Models on the podium in Saudi Arabia replaced by drones

In June 2018, a fashion show was held in Saudi Arabia, in which unmanned aerial vehicles were used instead of models. Among the clothing brands that showed their new items in such an unusual way was the fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.

Drones flew to the catwalk, to which dresses, handbags and various jewelry were attached. Such defiling has already been used at fashion shows in some countries, for example, in Italy, but for Saudi Arabia such an event was the first.

It coincided with the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, which in 2018 lasted until June 14. These days, believers fast, including they are forbidden to see other people's body parts. One of the organizers of the event said that they had been preparing for two weeks and believe that this format fits a religious holiday.

Nevertheless, in Saudi Arabia, such a technological fashion show was very skeptical. Social media users have linked it to the infringement of women's rights in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom. So, representatives of the weaker sex are forbidden to go out in public in open clothes and with their heads uncovered.

A lot of jokes have appeared on social networks about showing clothes using drones. For example, some users called such a demonstration ghostly, since dresses without people literally hovered mystically around the stage.

As noted by The New Arab, in April 2018 , the first fashion week in Saudi Arabia was held in Riyadh. There were no drones , but only women were allowed to watch the show , and even in  front of a female audience, fashion designers could not afford to go beyond the strictly delineated framework: deep cutouts, clothes that open the leg above the knee, and too transparent fabrics were not allowed. Perhaps such restrictions prompted the organizers of the new show to use drones.^[43]

In Shanghai, authorities allowed the delivery of food by drones

At the end of May 2018, Alibaba Group's online food delivery service Ele.me received permission from the Chinese authorities to use drones to deliver orders on 17 routes in Shanghai's industrial zone.

The approved routes cover an area of ​ ​ about 58 square meters. km over the Jinshan Industrial District in Shanghai (Shanghai Jinshan Industrial Park), where more than 100 food merchants do their business, reports The South China Morning Post.

Delivery of online orders by drones takes within 20 minutes after the client sends confirmation from his smartphone. According to the approved rules, for each of the directions, quadcopters will fly only between two fixed points.

Employees working at dispatch points form orders and place them in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cargo cabins. At the end points, staff unload drones and deliver food to customers at the addresses they specify. As assured in the Ele.me management, customers will not have to pay extra for delivery using UAVs.

By using drones in Ele.me, they expect to significantly reduce operating costs, since such delivery is cheaper than regular transportation by road. It is also assumed that the introduction of drones will five times increase the earnings of the company's couriers.

Such conclusions were made in Ele.me based on the results of test flights in Shanghai in September 2017. During the tests, branded E7 drones were used, capable of carrying up to 6 kg of food and flying a range of up to 20 km with a maximum speed of up to 65 km/h.

In addition, in October last year, the online service Ele.me demonstrated a courier robot capable of solving the problem of the "last mile" - delivering an order to the client's office.

Later in 2018, the company will introduce second-generation courier robots that will serve more than 500 office buildings in major Chinese cities, said Ele.me Chief Operating Officer Kang Jia[44]

Smugglers start using drones to ferry iPhones

At the end of March 2018, it became known about the detention of smugglers who used drones to illegally smuggle from Hong Kong Shenzhen. smartphones Apple

According to The South China Morning Post, the joint operation of law enforcement agencies of the two cities took place in February 2018 after several months of investigation. According to its results, 26 people were detained in Shenzhen, from whom two unmanned aerial vehicles and 4 thousand smartphones worth 20 million Hong Kong dollars were seized (about $2.5 million at the exchange rate as of March 30, 2018). In addition, three more people were arrested by Hong Kong customs officers, confiscating 900 devices from them in the amount of 4.5 million Hong Kong dollars (about $573 thousand).

According to law enforcement officers, a well-coordinated gang has been operating over the past six months. To smuggle from Hong Kong to mainland China, suspects used drones to stretch two 100m wires between two high-rise buildings, one located in Shenzhen and the other in Hong Kong. The police stressed that this is the first known case when attackers used quadcopters to organize smuggling.

Small canvas bags with smartphones inside, mainly restored iPhones, were transported along the stretched wires using a winch mechanism.

To avoid exposure, the gang worked from midnight to 5 a.m. The transfer process took less than a minute, and during the night the criminals managed to make more than 200 flights on each of the wires.

According to police estimates, from 10 to 15 thousand smartphones were transported across the border every night. Working 15 days a month, smugglers earned over 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) a month. It is assumed that for all the time the criminals transported smartphones with a total value of 500 million yuan (almost $80 million), avoiding taxes on 100 million yuan ($15.9 million).

Smugglers face up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to 2 million Hong Kong dollars (about $255 thousand).^[45]

Japan reveals skies to commercial drones

In mid-March 2018, Japan made a decision according to which, from the summer, commercial drones will be allowed to deliver parcels to remote and hard-to-reach areas - for example, to mountainous areas and to islands located in the distance.

The government of the country has revised the standards regarding drones in accordance with aviation legislation. According to the innovations, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) owned by enterprises and individuals should not neglect the requirements for safe speed and altitude. Operators are forbidden to launch UAVs over territories where people live, and it is planned to create special centers for loading and unloading parcels.

From 2018, the Ministry of Transport will begin to prepare for the permission to launch unmanned aerial vehicles in cities; it is assumed that all the necessary adjustments to the legislation will be made by 2020. Given that such drones must navigate a city with many tall buildings, the government will consider a new licensing drone certification system.

The first legislation involving drones was introduced in Japan in 2015 after a drone containing radioactive cargo was found on the roof of the prime minister's office. According to the rules, by mid-March 2018, unmanned aerial vehicles can only be launched within sight of the operator, and he must have a special license valid for one year.

With the beginning of the widespread distribution of drones, public attention turned out to be attracted by their illegal use. But the existing level of control allows drone flights to be allowed beyond the operator's sight. Despite the lack of working personnel, the technology is expected to be widely used for goods delivery and remote monitoring.

The upcoming flight permit will expand opportunities for both small and large businesses in Japan. Operators of the company's Japanese mail and virtual shopping center Rakuten are already testing manned drones. Local authorities also hope the drones can be used to maintain infrastructure, such as assessing the condition of bridges and power lines by high-resolution surveys.^[46]

First rescue of drowning

In January 2018, the first ever operation to rescue drowning people using unmanned aerial vehicles took place. Read more here.

2017

Shark recognition

Drones with artificial intelligence and advanced image recognition technology patrol Australia's coast to help prevent shark attacks on humans. Read more here.

Mandatory registration of drones weighing from 250 grams introduced in the UK

Mandatory registration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing more than 250 g will be applied in the UK. According to the country's Aviation Minister Martin Callanan, the main goal of the innovation is to ensure the safety of the population and "maximize the full potential of drones." In addition, UAV owners will be tested for knowledge of the basics of security and privacy laws during their use^[47]

Prior to the adoption of the rules, the authorities conducted testing, during which it was revealed that a drone weighing more than 400 g during a collision could break the windshield of a helicopter, and a drone weighing up to 2 kg could damage the glass of the aircraft. The Council of the Civil Aviation Administration for four months since the beginning of the year has already stated 22 incidents involving UAVs. In this regard, the UK government also plans to expand the list of restricted areas for their application.

Georgia to introduce law restricting drone use

The Civil Aviation Agency Georgia , with the assistance of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), has developed a law regulating the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (). UAV According to him, all drones must be registered. Registration is indefinite, but the Agency reserves the right to demand its confirmation every 2 years^[48] the^[49]

By law, it will not be possible to use drones in cities, densely populated areas and crowded places - on the streets, in squares. The main restrictions will affect the distance. The maximum height by which the vehicle can be lifted is 400 feet (122 m). It is forbidden to use drones within a radius of 5.5 km from airports and 50 m from buildings (unless the pilot operator is the owner of the building or has received the consent of the owner).

Unmanned aerial vehicles will be divided into categories - open, specific and subject to certification. Each type will have its own requirements. Unmanned aerial vehicles with a takeoff weight of 5-150 kg will have to be registered. Each UAV will be awarded a 5-digit registration number. All numbers will be entered into a single database.

It is not yet clear how the Civil Aviation Agency will catch airspace violators - whether it will do this with its own efforts or resort to the help of the patrol service. The new rules for the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles will come into force on September 1, 2017. From November 1, 2017, drone registration will begin, and from January 2020, the department will begin to certify the devices.

US court cancels drone registration

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia concluded^[50]that the Federal Aviation Administration USA (FAA) is not entitled to regulate the operation of aircraft models, including multirotor drones. Thus, individuals in the United States are no longer required to register drones with the FAA, according to ArsTechnica^[51][52]

Over the past two to three years, the widespread use of civilian multicopters in some countries has led the authorities to begin implementing various systems that oblige owners to register drones. In the United States, drone buyers were obliged to register^[53] of aircraft at the end of 2015, while the requirement for mandatory registration applied to drones weighing from 250 grams to 25 kilograms. To register, you had to specify the name, home address and e-mail, as well as pay a five-dollar fee. In January 2016 alone, the FAA registered about 300,000 civilian drones.

Aircraft modeler John Taylor disagreed with FAA rules and went to court, believing that the Agency restricts its rights and interferes with the regulation of aircraft modeling, which is expressly prohibited by^[54] by existing regulations. The court sided with John Taylor and struck down the FAA's registration requirements. "Taylor believes that the FAA had no right to approve the registration rules and require it to enforce them. Taylor is right, "the court said in its ruling.

As noted by ArsTechnica, the FAA has several possible options for action. The agency may ask the court to reconsider its decision, challenge the decision in the US Supreme Court, or turn to Congress for regulatory authority in the field of aircraft modeling legally. It is worth noting that the abolition of the requirements for registration of private drones does not apply to commercial operation - in this case, interested parties are still obliged to cooperate with the FAA.

Belarus: Monopoly on drone use

Since September 2017, Belarus has allowed the operation of popular models of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with an allowable power of control systems with these devices up to 100 mW. However, only members of the unmanned aviation federation will be able to legally use drones. For all other citizens, an attempt to launch an unmanned vehicle threatens with penalties and confiscation of a drone^[55] of^[56]

"The Commission decided to allocate a band of radio frequencies 2400-2483.5 MHz of the Belarusian Federation of Unmanned Aviation NGO with a maximum EIIM of 100 mW for the operation of radio electronic means of wireless transmission of data of aircraft model control systems. The Commission also recommended that the Belarusian Federation of Unmanned Aircraft NGO record the aircraft models on board of which the RESs indicated above are installed, "the regulator said in a statement.

"In order to legally operate an aircraft model operating in the 2400-2483.5 MHz radio frequency band with an EIIM from 10 mW to 100 mW, a citizen must join the republican public association" Belarusian Federation of Unmanned Aviation "and register his aircraft model (indicated above) in this federation."

More than 1.5 thousand dollars USA can cost licensing one drone with a maximum mass of more than 7 kilograms. The Belarusian parliament adopted in the first reading a version of the Air Code, which provides for state licensing of drones.

This was announced at the end of 2017 by the deputy head of the Belarusian Federation of Unmanned Aircraft Gleb Bondarik^[57].

"There is reason to believe that paid licensing will be introduced for all devices weighing more than 7 kilograms. At the same time, it is not clear how the wording "maximum mass" will be interpreted. It is possible that the equipped weight of the drone or its possible equipped mass will be considered, "he said. "It's hard to say how much licensing will cost. According to my data, at least 1.5 thousand dollars per unit. This is a lot, especially given the cost of the devices. In addition, in order to obtain a license, you will need to come with a drone to the enterprise of the Ministry of Defense, which is located outside Minsk and wait a few days for a conclusion in a hotel, "Bondarik said

.

eDrone project launched in Armenia, Georgia, Belarus and Moldova for 1 million euros

The eDrone project in 2017 was launched in Armenia, Georgia, Belarus and Moldova. Within three years, European specialists will teach colleagues from the Eastern Partnership countries the latest technologies and methods for creating unmanned aerial vehicles. The program worth 1 million euros is financed by the European Union^[58].

The project "Study of unmanned lethal vehicles" was launched in the countries of the Eastern Partnership. Its goal is to transfer the West's experience in innovation and information technology and help open educational centers for the study and creation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The initiative unites eight countries - four from the European Union (Italy, France, Poland, Romania) and four post-Soviet (Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Belarus). The total budget of the project, which will last three years, is 1 million euros. The amount will be distributed among 17 universities and companies of the participating countries. According to the results of the three-year program, they will develop their own educational projects and create centers for the study of unmanned aerial vehicles on their basis.

The eDrone programme is funded by the EU's Erasmus + project, running from 2014 to 2020, which supports undertakings in the field formations and vocational training.

"Taylsitter" with independent screws

The American company Heurobotics has created a new unmanned aerial vehicle - "Taylsitter." Such a scheme is an aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing on the tail. According to Aviation Week, in the new device, the developers implemented the "helicopter" concept of propellers, using a plug-in drive and overrunning couplings^[59].

Japan to propose international standards for drones

Japan will submit uniform standards for the use of remotely controlled aircraft to the World Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2020. ^[60].

Japan is preparing to propose uniform world standards for the use of drones in 2020, which will be submitted for approval by the World Organization for Standardization (ISO). In early 2018, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, together with the Japanese aerospace agency JAXA and the Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (AIST), intends to begin work on improving the flights of remotely controlled aircraft. In particular, in order to avoid drone collisions in the air, a system for controlling aircraft using altitude sensors and GPS navigation will be developed. Japanese developers plan to actively cooperate in this area with companies from other countries (including the PRC, in which the commercial production of drones is now concentrated) in order to use international experience in the field of automatic flights and the processing of their data to compile international standards.

What began unmanned aviation of the XIX-XX centuries

Flying drones have been occupied by designers and scientists for several centuries. If in the 20th century the drone was a bold fantasy, like many scientific and technical ideas, today it becomes part of the real economy, creates new methods of diagnosis and monitoring, and also jobs.

The first predecessors of modern unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are Austrian aerial bombing balloons. They were first used in 1849.

The prerequisites for the full development of flying drones are the invention of electricity and radio communications. The pioneers in this area were brilliant scientists and eternal enemies Thomas Edison and Nicola Tesla.

Edison presented his development a little earlier, in 1892, and this was a drone far from in the modern sense of the word: Edison's torpedo could only be controlled by wires. Nikola Tesla went further and by 1899 had created a small drone on radio control.

The starting point was 1910, when the inventor Charles Kettering proposed the creation of an aircraft under the control of a clock mechanism. At a certain time, he had to drop his wings and collapse on his enemies. The idea interested the Americans - they began to finance the development of an engineer. The first test flights were successful, but the project did not go further than them^[61].

For a long time, UAVs were perceived exclusively as military equipment. During World War I, German and American manufacturers developed drones and competed to lift more explosives. The maximum was achieved by the United States in 1916: their drone could carry 450 kilograms. The UAVs did not take part in the hostilities, but the obtained developments were later used.

In the interwar period, engineers actively experimented with various ways to launch and land drones. They were launched from catapults and bombers, put on water and with the help of parachutes. The developers from the USSR also contributed: they created an unmanned glider that could carry a torpedo and was directed using an infrared beam.

The breakthrough happened in 1933, when British engineers jointly created the first remote-controlled drone. This was a reusable vehicle, it was used as a target for training pilots and anti-aircraft gunners.

The dumping of torpedoes became the main interest of the developers during the Second World War, until the end of 1992 this interest did not shift. So far, everything has not changed the invention of GPS.

Drones began to be used for purposes close to what we have today: monitoring, shooting, reconnaissance, location determination.

After the end of World War II, drones were actively used in the military intelligence complex of America and the Soviet Union.

Civilian drones appeared only in the 2000s - they are technically different from military drones, are considered more technological due to their small production volumes and narrow specialization. The latter two circumstances allow engineers to respond quickly to changing consumer market priorities and needs.

Some startups impress even skeptics with their capabilities, because they are already competing with delivery services, and in the future they can seriously squeeze out small aircraft.

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