Drone futures – why realism is essential for the sector to take off, not hype and marcomms

The UK government is reaching for the sky to find new sources of economic growth and productivity, via future flight technologies, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Accordingly, and as previously explored, it is introducing a two-year airspace change to allow Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) to be tested in the UK and integrated with air traffic control.

On the face of it, the economic prize is significant: an estimated global market worth $57.8 billion by 2030, according to analysts Drone Industry Insights, and a potential 650,000 new jobs, claim PwC. Both figures feel optimistic, but let's take them at face value. So, where might all that value come from?

Promising applications versus reality

Most people are aware of hobbyist and media applications – such as mounting cameras on drones to capture aerial footage for movies, at sporting events, or in competitive drone racing. But the technology promises ...