Game of Drones

Drones are set to become a $100bn market over the next 5 years, and with the likes of Amazon, Walmart and Google all developing UAV technology it seems the fight for the 'drone crown' is fully under way. But what industries are already embracing drones and what stand out devices are they developing?

Transport

Drone technology is predicted to replace $13bn worth of labour and business services within the transport industry by 2020. Innovative company Volocopter have already begun trials for their two seater drone taxis in Dubai.

Entertainment

Global broadcaster Sky recently invested over $1m into the Drone Racing League. Both Eurosport and Fox Sports are following suit, broadcasting the DR1 too. But drone entertainment doesn’t stop at racing. Augmented Reality company Edgybees and electronics giants Epson have collaborated to merge AR gaming, drones and smart glasses.

Retail

Package delivery is probably the most popular prediction for drones of the future, so it’s no surprise that retail giant Walmart recently submitted patent plans for an impressive airborne warehouse. This floating depot will fly at altitudes of 500-1000ft and launch smaller drones carrying goods to customers on the ground.

Healthcare

Research from DJI, the world’s leading maker of unmanned aerial vehicles, revealed that drones had helped to rescue 59 people from life-threatening situations around the world. A surf club at Muriwai Beach, New Zealand are currently trialling a lifeguard drone which can help to spot people in trouble within minutes, drop flotation devices and projects the lifeguards voice, allowing them to talk through rescue procedures from the air.

Agriculture

The value of drone technology in agriculture is estimated to be worth $32.4bn, with drones already helping to monitor vast farmland, analyse soil and even heard cattle. But researchers in Japan have gone one step further, creating insect-sized drones for artificial pollination. These tiny drones use horse hairs and sticky ionic gel to pick up pollen from one plant and deposit it into another.

Security

Armies all over the world are already investing heavily in droves and the UK recently launched its first ever 24/7 police drone unit. Tech company Sunflower Labs are currently developing a home security system which can deploy a security drone to patrol and protect your home.

Construction

It’s been estimated that future drone technology has a value of $11.1bn in the construction industry. Dr Mirko Kovac and his team at the department of aeronautics at Imperial College, London, are currently developing construction drones equipped with 3D printing technology that will excrete materials to construct and repair buildings and structures.

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