FAA Says Okay to UAVs
The FAA approval of certain unmanned aerial vehicle systems clears the way for the go-ahead for commercial operations. While a lot of thought has already gone into managing this lofty population explosion, nonetheless the day is coming when these things are colliding with each other, getting sucked into jet engines or tangled in power lines. They will become just another modern annoyance like people with their golf umbrellas who take up the whole sidewalk. The sky will be alive: security surveillance, weather data collection, pipeline, power line and cell tower inspections, crop dusting, news and sports coverage, search and rescue are all much discussed applications.
As the units get smaller and they become more autonomous, the uses – and business models – are going to expand. Imagine about how many organizations will find themselves managing a UAV fleet. Government organizations aplenty, media outlets, security firms, utilities, all will be joined by real estate agencies getting aerial photos, farmers inspecting crops and keeping an eye on the herd, couriers providing package delivery to rural locations, and market researchers tracking crowds.
Then add in all the firms that will sell, maintain, train pilots and even operate these fleets, plus the inspectors, regulators, lawyers and insurance adjusters who will be needed and are even now developing their own specialties in the space. And not to mention industry conferences. Up, up and away.
« Aussie Minister of InfoSec – Not a Bad Idea Data Visualization May Be The Thing – But Caution Required »
