
Pros of Drones (in depth)
In this section we'll go more in depth for each of the pros mentioned in the table earlier, followed by the cons.
We are all in consensus if we agree that drones are here to stay, and their best days are yet to come. What’s surprising is barely a few years ago, hardly anyone had seen any of these drones. You already relate to that stroll by the park only to hear some peculiar buzzing sound. You shoot a glance up and see the tiny swooping object hovering above. Yes, that’s a drone!
Compared to their earlier versions, innovation has resulted in smarter and more miniaturized tech. Here is a comprehensive review of the pros and cons of unmanned aerial vehicles.
PROS
CONS
In this section we'll go more in depth for each of the pros mentioned in the table earlier, followed by the cons.
Now let's see the potential issues and downsides for the drone industry in general.
Most consumer and commercial drones are lithium-powered polymer batteries. Despite the increase in flight time, frequent battery replacements must be conducted to prevent battery replacement in several sites.
For instance, the Mavic Mini 2 can manage an impressive 31 minutes, while the more advanced DJI M300 manages 55 minutes of flight time. Advances in lithium battery technology have made them smaller and much more efficient.
The drone’s lithium-polymer battery should not be exposed to moisture at any time. That is why drones are not to be flown in wet weather. If we look at the broader sense of drones, there are a few exceptions, such as with underwater drones. Strong winds affect the flight of drones too.
There are so many reported instances of drones being swept by the occasional strong winds when flying close to the ocean shorelines. To remain on the safe side, only fly in normal weather conditions.
The laws have had a hard time catching up with the development of new drone technology. Until recently, it was a really big mess where each country had its own specific laws and it was hard for anyone to travel with their personal drone without a ton of research ahead.
Nowadays, things are more unified, as drone technologies have been better understood, as well as the dangers that they pose to civilians or aircraft.
Europe is working on a set of new regulations for civil drones that make things a bit more definitive in the industry and for consumers like us.
Just as with any other electronic gadget, malfunction can happen. It might be a hardware or software defect or generally due to poor stewardship. In the case of drone flight, inexperienced drone pilots can easily crash their unmanned aircraft due to poor navigation skills.
Increased drone ownership poses another problem in urban centers as there is a high likelihood of injury to people should it malfunction and drop to the ground. These issues are why drone regulators require one to have understood drone rules and undergone some form of training before earning the right to fly a drone legally.
In the same manner in which drones are used to track animal movements or detect poachers by conservation players, likewise, it can also be used by poachers to track animal movements more effectively and evade the authorities.
Drone hacking is a major issue and can cause you a lot of trouble. Hackers can easily tamper with the drone software and disable flight in restricted areas. Today you can get guidelines on groups and internet chat forums on how to overcome restrictions on drones. Advanced hackers can even collect the drone feed from your drone as it goes about filming.
Drones can be used for nefarious reasons, espionage being one of them. That is why most, if not all, government buildings, military installations, and sensitive national security areas are no-go zones for drone pilots. Governments across the world are investing in drone jamming equipment in sensitive areas to take down any nefarious actors.
Drones pose a great risk to airports due to the high risk of collision. Generally, airports and aerodromes are classified as no-flight zones for drone users. In areas where such cases are frequent, airports are investing in drone jamming equipment to either capture or neutralize the drones.
Let's see what are the advantages and disadvantages of drones for specific industries this time.
A D V A N T A G E S
D I S A D V A N T A G E S
f you are flying an agricultural drone over your personal property, a drone weighing less than 25 kg, there is no need for a license. Exceptions apply if you fly a drone over 25 kg and use the drone for commercial purposes. For drone users in the UK, you still need to apply for a CASA’s aviation reference number and give prior notification before flights.
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You only have to register your drone if it weighs above 250 grams (0.55 pounds) in the UK and USA. You need an RPL and must ensure your drone is registered by the aviation authorities. The FAA mandates that drones used for commercial purposes must be registered every 3 years. Failure to have your drone registered results in steep penalties.
When registering the drones remember there are two categories: recreational and commercial. The registration process for a recreational drone by the FAA only requires a name, physical address, and email address. Commercial drones require one to provide the model and make of the drone.
With new technology, there's always a slower rate of adaptation for some sections of society, especially because of the fast rate of adoption in the case of drones.
That's why there will be pros and cons to drone use and UAV technology for a long time to come until we figure out how to solve some of the disadvantages and make things safer for everyone.