Smile for the Camera: Private Surveillance Drones in US’ Future

Written by Dabney B. on Friday, April 13th, 2012

Drones are here to stay. Much of their popularity falls back to their numerous successes in the Middle East. Based on that, US and other world governments are pouring money into drone research. Recent legislation even opens up the doors for privately owned surveillance drones.

It’s quite easy to see that drones are popular now, but what isn’t quite as easy to predict is just how big drones will become. As it turns out, drones may be bigger than any of us had imagined. Teal Group, an aerospace and defense market analyst corporation, has just released a report stating that drones represent an absolutely enormous portion of future military spending.

They predict that worldwide spending on UAV technology will jump from $6.6 billion annually to $11.4 billion annually, nearly double its current value. What’s important to remember is that these increases in spending will occur while many governments are cutting back on military spending.

Many different governments will be focusing on developing their drone technology, but, according to Teal Group, the US will remain at the forefront. They estimate that the US will purchase nearly half of all drones produced, and they buy tadalafil 5 mg will cover two-thirds of global spending on drone research and development.

The popularity of drones should result in dramatic advancement in sensor technology. Because drones do not need to carry a human pilot, they could be as small as hummingbirds. These minuscule drones will drive up demand for cameras, radars, and other sensors that weight only a few pounds, all while being as effective as their larger counterparts.

What does all of this mean for the average US citizen? These are the forces that will probably result in widespread use of private drones. A competitive market will inevitably lead to cheaper and smaller drones. Once drones reach a reasonable price range, it will be entirely possible for police, companies, and private individuals to purchase and use drone. And when privately-owned spy planes hit the skies, that will undoubtedly raise major questions about privacy rights.

In short, we need to stop thinking of drones as expensive and restricted technology reserved only for the military. Without doubt, drones will enter the private market soon. It is not at all unreasonable to expect widespread proliferation police drones or state-owned surveillance UAVs in the next decade or two.

 

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