Drones are growing in popularity, and hobbyist versions are available for well under USD 100.00. However, before you buy, here are some of the key benefits and challenges associated with the use of drones.
Over the last few years, we are likely to have been impressed by the aerial video footage included in YouTube videos that have been produced by hobbyists ad photography amateurs. Back in the day, filming such scenes would have been costly, as it would involve the use of planes, helicopters, hot air balloons, or even paragliders, to get high enough off the ground in order to do so. These days, a considerably cheaper, and perhaps safer, alternative is available: unmanned aerial vehicles, more commonly known as drones.
Although drones can vary considerably in features and sophistication, and consequently price, the ones used by hobbyists tend to range in price from less than USD 50.00, to up to USD 500.00, whilst specialist devices can easily cost thousands of dollars. As a result, and with a such a low cost of ownership, the sale of drones have been on the rise in many countries, including those in the Caribbean region.
In addition to recreational use, drones have a broad range of applications, including, land mapping and surveying, security and surveillance, crop spraying, and package delivery, to name just a few. However, although drones can, at the very least, enhance, but at best, considerably improve the effectiveness and efficiency of many labour-intensive operations, there are still some pros and cons with regard to their use of which we should be aware.
Benefits of using a drone
First, and in addition to being cost effective, when compared against the cost of using humans and other tools, drones could provide a good return on the investment made. However, frequency and the nature of use would also need to be considered to justify the initial spend, which can be high, depending on the application for which drones are to be used.
Second, drones can replace humans in potentially dangerous situations, such as when access might be difficult or unsafe for humans: for example, traversing steep terrain, or in the recovery effort in aftermath of a disaster (storms, earthquakes, fire, etc.). In hazardous conditions, in particular, drones can be outfitted with a variety of cameras and sensors that can help first responders, for example, understand the severity of the situation, and to be in position to develop a more rigorous and better informed strategy.
Third, it is worth emphasising that drone technology is continually improving, and so the applications for which they can be used is increasing. They have become easier to control, since many have Global Positioning Systems (GPSes) integrated into their design. As a result, they can precisely programmed and controlled, which becomes especially useful in potentially dangerous situations, or when they are far away from base.
Challenges associated with drone use
At the other end of the spectrum, a key challenge with regard to the use of drones is that in many countries, including some here in the Caribbean, there are a number of legal restrictions on the importation and use of drones. As an aerial device, oversight of drone use would tend to fall within the purview of the local civil aviation authorities, where a key focus would be to avoid mid-air collisions with other manned, or unmanned vehicles, along with the potential danger to people and property from falling drones. Some jurisdictions have specified height (altitude) and other restrictions that apply to drones; whilst in others, the conditions and restrictions are not so clear, and may be reflected in the importation challenges.
Second, drone use may be restricted in certain areas, or restricted for security reasons. For example, hobbyist drones would not be allowed to fly over army bases, police camps, government buildings, or the residences of senior state and diplomatic officials. However, if countries are not confident they will be able competently implement those restrictions, they may be less inclined to permit the general importation and use of drones in-country.
Third, there are privacy concerns associated with drone use. These concerns tend to range from the extent to which an individual’s right to privacy could be undermined, to the treatment of the images and data that has been collected. Although many countries worldwide, have been enacting data protection legislation, there are still quite a few, such in the Caribbean, that do not yet have those protections in place, which in turn continues to fuel the concerns about drone use, and the extent to which the requisite systems are in place to ensure privacy and to protect private data.
Summary
The usefulness of drones is difficult to refute, and as mentioned earlier, new and different ways of using them are continually being developed, and they are also be continually being improved. Hence, although there are distinct benefits, the current challenges cannot be overlooked, as they are the source of much of the concern and uncertainty that exists among policymakers and the public at large.
Image credit: Thomas Ehrhardt (Pixabay)
