Show Proves It’s Right To Drone On
Two weeks ago this column predicted that drones could be big in 2015 and now they have proved to be the top talking point from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where a dozen companies were promoting models.
Commercially, drones are already being used extensively for aerial movie work, as well as delivering pizza in Russia and transporting parcels from the German coast to the North Sea island of Juist.
There are plenty of other ideas under discussion.
One is to fly them around houses for sale taking film for estate agency websites.
Another is to take additional footage for wedding videos.
Inspection tasks are almost certain to become a key area of use, whether that might be for farmers to check on livestock or utility companies to check power lines.
Supporting mountain rescue in the search for missing hikers is another plan being deliberated.
The domestic market is also set to boom now that entry level models are available for as little as £100 and decent grown up’ versions for about £500.
So, far it is mostly enthusiasts that have taken the plunge, but that is expected to change this year.
Unsurprisingly, then, the question of regulation is raising its head. Recent months have seen reports of a near miss between a drone and a commercial jet and someone being injured by the rotor blades of one that was out of control.
As we have seen from the aerial photography on many recent TV programmes and current You Tube clips, the results of using a drone borne camera can be terrific.
There may, though, be challenges ahead should the skies become filled with them.
