As the Christmas spirit finally dies away and spring is around the corner turn your eyes to the skies as one of the must have presents will finally make its appearance – the drone.
This equipment has already been the source of an airport shutting down but more than that is being used and developed at a significant speed. Inside, outside, near or far the drone is one of the most high profile innovations of the last two years and looks set to nothing short of revolutionise some aspect of business and our lives.
Take the latest airborne missile attacks in the middle east they came from drones which were controlled many miles away but it isn’t only this aspect of the technology that we should be look at.
Already the big distributors are testing drones for package delivery and there are plans to further increase their use because they are the equipment that can go where we can’t. So imagine in a few years time that the drone will be used to check structures, vast swatches of forests even check on endangered species.
But with this undoubted increased usage will come risks which is why in the UK The government has acted to give police forces across the country new powers to tackle the misuse of unmanned aircraft, including drones, as the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill had its second reading in Parliament at the end of January.
The legislation will give the police new powers to land, inspect and seize drones if an offence has been committed and a warrant is secured.
Drone users could also face an on the spot fine for certain offences such as failing to provide evidence that they have the correct permissions and exemptions if found to be flying their device too high or too close to buildings, or failing to provide evidence of competency or registration.
The bill will also grant the Transport Secretary new powers to ensure that airports modernise their airspace, delivering quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys. Modernising flight paths and the infrastructure of the sky will help reduce CO2 emissions from aviation, minimise noise for those near flight-paths and improve punctuality for passengers.
But the government isn’t just looking at the negative, it is also evaluating drone technology
It’s going to be fascinating to see the types of drones that enter our airspace over the next few years and how they impact our day to day lives.
- Will a drone be able to save lives by delivering urgent medical supplies quickly?
- Will a drone be available to deliver your pizza safely, securely and on time without the cheese all melty to the side resulting in uneven topping distribution?
- Will a drone be able to leave your Amazon package behind the bin or in the middle of your neighbors pond in the professional and courteous manner in which a delivery driver can?