Drone technology
Drone technology refers to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, which can be operated remotely or autonomously without a pilot on board. These devices vary significantly in size and shape, with many equipped with cameras for capturing photos and videos. Drones have a rich history, with military applications dating back to the mid-1990s, and have evolved to include uses by civilians for recreational activities beginning in the 2010s. They serve various practical functions, such as monitoring agricultural fields, surveying for wildfires, and filming for movies, while some companies are exploring drone delivery services for goods and food.
Despite their benefits, the rise in drone usage has prompted concerns about privacy, safety, and potential misuse. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established regulations to manage these concerns, including requirements for drone registration, operational altitude limits, and restrictions on flying near people or airports. Overall, drone technology represents a rapidly growing field with diverse applications, but it also necessitates careful consideration of its implications in society.
Drone technology
A drone is a kind of aircraft. A drone is also known as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A drone is "unmanned" because it does not need a pilot on board to fly it. A person on the ground flies a drone. Some drones are guided by a remote control. Others are guided by computers. Some are flown by people thousands of miles away. Drones are available in different sizes and shapes. Many have cameras that take pictures or record video. The U.S. military has used drones since the mid-1990s and by the 2020s dozens of other countries also used military drones. During the 2010s and 2020s, many people started flying drones for fun. So many people own drones that the government had to create rules for flying them.
History of Drones
Militaries have used unmanned aircraft for many years. During the American Civil War (1861–5), armies tried using balloons to drop explosives into enemy camps. The British Royal Navy created a drone-like vehicle in the 1930s. Pilots used it to practice their shooting skills.
The U.S. military began using modern drones in 1995. The military first used drones to collect information. For example, a drone could be used to find an enemy's hiding place. Unlike an airplane or a helicopter, a drone does not need a pilot on board. The people who fly drones can be thousands of miles away. For this reason, drones are safer to fly over dangerous areas.
The U.S. military later added weapons to drones. They began to use drones to perform drone strikes. During a drone strike, a drone fires its weapons at an enemy. Other countries, including Great Britain and Russia, also started using drones. Russia and Ukraine both used drones during the war in Ukraine, which started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Some of these new drones used artificial intelligence (AI) to help find their targets.
A few companies introduced drones for ordinary citizens in early 2013. People could buy their own drones for a few hundred dollars. Most of these drones were small—about the size of a textbook. They were not very heavy. These drones did not have weapons. However, some had cameras that take pictures or record video. People buy drones for many reasons. For example, some people use drones to take photos from high up in the air.
Uses for Drones
Drones can be helpful. Farmers use them to check on fields and crops. Firefighters fly drones over forests to check for wildfires. Filmmakers may use them to record scenes in movies. Scientists may fly drones into big storms to gather information such as temperature and wind speed.
Some companies think drones could help grow their business. For example, in the early 2020s, Amazon, Walmart, and some other companies started using drones to deliver goods to people's homes. Drones can deliver goods in minutes. People would not have to wait for goods to arrive in the mail. Other companies want to use drones to deliver food.
People do not always use drones to help others. Some use drones to break the law. For example, people have tried to deliver items to prisoners in jail using drones. People have flown drones over baseball and football stadiums, which is not allowed. Someone even crashed a drone onto the lawn of the White House in 2015. The White House is where the president lives.
Problems with Drones
Drones have become very popular. However, they do cause some problems. Many people do not trust drones. They think drones will record what they do and say. They do not want drones to invade their privacy. When a person's privacy is invaded, others know about the person's private life.
Drones can cause property damage. Property is something owned by someone. Houses and cars are examples of property. Many people lose control of their drones while flying them. Drones may crash into people's houses or cars and cause damage. Out-of-control drones also can hit people and hurt them.
Another problem is that drones could collide with other aircraft. They could get sucked into a jet's engine. Such events could have serious effects, especially if a helicopter or an airplane crashes as a result. The government has created rules to prevent some of these problems.
Rules for Drones
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the part of the U.S. government that makes rules about flying. The FAA introduced rules for drones in 2015. First, people must register their drones. To register is to add one's name to an official list. The FAA then gives the drone owner an identification number. This number must be displayed on the drone. The following are more FAA rules for drones:
- Do not fly above 400 feet.
- Keep the drone in sight at all times.
- Stay away from other aircraft.
- Do not fly near airports.
- Do not fly near people or stadiums.
- Do not fly a drone that weighs more than 55 pounds.
- If you put others in danger, you may have to pay a fine.
Comprehension Test
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What unmanned aircraft did armies use in the Civil War?
A. an airplane
B. a balloon
C. a drone
D. a helicopter
2. The U.S. military first used drones to
A. collect information.
B. fire weapons.
C. practice shooting.
D. deliver goods.
3. Who may use drones to gather information about storms?
A. firefighters
B. farmers
C. scientists
D. filmmakers
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
4. A ‗‗‗‗‗‗ is when a drone fires its weapons at an enemy.
5. ‗‗‗‗‗‗ is something owned by someone, such as a house or a car.
6. To ‗‗‗‗‗‗ their drones, people must add their names to an official list.
Bibliography
Anderson, Chris. "How I Accidentally Kickstarted the Domestic Drone Boom." Wired (June, 2012). http://www.wired.com/2012/06/ff‗drones/. This article describes a number of drone uses as well as the author's recollection of building his own drone.
Bowden, Mark. "How the Predator Drone Changed the Character of War." Smithsonian, Nov. 2013, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-predator-drone-changed-the-character-of-war-3794671/?no-ist. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023.
"Drones." Federal Aviation Administration, www.faa.gov/uas. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023.
Eadicicco, Lisa. "Here's Why Drone Delivery Won't Be a Reality Any Time Soon." Time, Nov. 2015, time.com/4098369/amazon-google-drone-delivery/.
Hudson, John, and Kostiantyn Khudov. "The War in Ukraine is Spurring a Revolution in Drone Warfare Using AI." The Washington Post, 26 Jul. 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/26/drones-ai-ukraine-war-innovation/. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023.
New York Times Editorial Board. "Ruling Drones, Before They Rule Us." New York Times (January 10, 2016): SR10. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/opinion/sunday/drone-regulations-should-focus-on-safety-and-privacy.html?‗r=0. This article discusses the need for regulation of drones.
Ripley, Amanda. "Playing Defense Against the Drones." Atlantic (November, 2015). http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/11/playing-defense-against-the-drones/407851/.
Suebsaeng, Asawin. "Drones: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know but Were Always Afraid to Ask." Mother Jones (March, 2013). http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/03/drones-explained.
Tarasov, Katie. "Amazon’s 100 Drone Deliveries Puts Prime Air Far behind Alphabet’s Wing and Walmart Partner Zipline." CNBC, 18 May 2023, www.cnbc.com/2023/05/18/amazons-100-drone-deliveries-puts-prime-air-behind-google-and-walmart.html. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023.