Welcome to the attack of the drones.
With drones being spotted all over the New York City skies recently, it’s time to assess what these new-age bots are capable of, and how legal they actually are.
After professing for years that America was leading the pack vis-Ã -vis drone technology, it appears the FAA now is comfortable with being surpassed by international markets.
According to Patrick Egan, editor of the Americas Desk at sUAS News, the FAA regularly puts out numbers pertaining to the market cap of drones, only to revise them.
At present, only one system is certified by the FAA for commercial operation, while an additional two systems have been certified on a limited basis. Within five years, however, the FAA projects to certify 7,500 commercial operating systems.
In comparison, there are 31 countries in Europe where it is legal to fly drones, with more than 1,300 operators being certified. In Japan, there are more than 14,000 certified commercial operators.
On the manufacturing side, Egan says that the current landscape benefits AeroVironment and Boeing — two of the only sanctioned commercial operating systems — most, while, at the same time, crowds smaller businesses out of entering the market.
Using drones to photograph breathtaking aerial footage and then sell it, Hollywood and several agricultural industries have been able to reap the profits from drones for years.
MLB even uses drones under the radar to take and sell photographs and videos that cannot be captured otherwise. Because thay give to consumers not just the game, but also a 360-degree experience, drones have become the natural evolution of the previously employed Spidercam.
Egan also asserts that more than 15,000 drones and quadcopters are being sold a month between the two largest manufacturers. Amazon sells an additional 15,000 drones a month through its Web site, with a little overlap between Amazon and the manufacturers.
While recreational drones start retailing at around $300, commercial drones range anywhere from $250,000 to the $255 million Global Hawk drone.
Among the most common drones are the UAV drones, which are used recreationally and usually cost around $1,000.
The legality of operating drones is still murky, with many companies and civilians alike choosing to flout the currently imposed regulations. It is not against the law to sell drones, making Amazon and other retailers’ activity legal.