Look up, it’s a bird, it’s a plane…it’s a drone!
Perhaps like me you weren’t part of the mad dash to acquire one of the must-have tech toys of the past two years. Ever the skeptic, I like to wait until trendy fads have proven themselves.
Yet drones, also known as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), have demonstrated their worth and usefulness well beyond the initial craze in a myriad of ways. From farming to humanitarian aid missions, the potential of drone technology is amazing. My personal favorites are the spectacular aerial photography and videos accomplished with drones, such as this video of my alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the #400ftBritain project. Want to learn more about drones and their remarkable usefulness? Let’s take a look at some of the latest news on drones with these five articles.
You can read these articles using CPL’s Online Resources, but I’ve also noted if an article is available freely on the web.
"10 Ways Drones Are Changing Your World" by Tom Foster
Consumer Reports, January 2017
Examine how drones will soon affect our everyday lives in a host of useful ways thanks to the innovative efforts of research industries and pioneering companies. The article predicts that almost 2.3 million drones will be sold this year and includes a helpful list of tips to keep in mind if you're considering purchasing one.
"The Drone Economy" by Bill Virgin
Seattle Business, January 2017 (also available on The Seattle Business website)
This article defines the "Drone Economy" as the growth of the drone industry and the businesses that involve the use and creation of drones. The author declares that this economy is presently flourishing and creating a new job-generating tech-sector that will "reshape businesses directly involved with the production or use of UAVs."
"Using Drones: What You Need to Know" by Joseph Scarcella
Tech Directions, October 2016 (also available on the Tech Directions website)
Want to know if you need a license to fly your own drone? Learn the difference between FAA guidelines for recreational versus commercial UAV uses. The article covers basic requirements of the UAV application, safety guidelines, UAV requirements and operating rules. The author also predicts an estimated 100,000 new jobs will be created by the rising drone industry over the next 10 years.
"Moving Into the Mainstream, Drones Pique Entrepreneurs' Interest" by Aili Mcconnon
New York Times, May 26, 2016 (also available on The New York Times website)
"From catastrophe response to news-gathering to construction-site monitoring," journalist Aili Mcconnon explains how the commercial drone industry is the fastest-growing sector in technology and how entrepreneurs will capitalize with these new innovative enterprises.
"Drones Unleashed" by Kevin Maney
Newsweek Global, September 16, 2016
Award-winning technology columnist Kevin Maney discusses the need for the integration of artificial intelligence with drone technology to make drones "smarter" and explains that once that happens, drones will replace dogs as "man's best friend."
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