What are Different Drone Types & Uses – Interesting Facts (and Figures)
Whether you consider them a Pilotless Aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or merely a flying machine, there is a massive increase in drone use across different industries. Over the past five years, drones have become dominant in roles for countless businesses and administrative establishments. They have succeeded in penetrating specific ranges where some companies were either stationary or falling behind. They are proving to be enormously advantageous to reach places that are otherwise difficult for humans to approach. Drones deployed purposefully are increasing productivity with efficiency, decreasing manufacturing costs, triggering precision, addressing security concerns, and providing relief from labour-intensive jobs in different fields and across several industries throughout the world. Here are a few interesting facts and specific impressive assignments that drones are accomplishing on an international level.
Military Use:
Israel is the first country to develop and deploy drones for military use. At the same time, the US and Israel together are the most prominent manufacturers and users of military drones. In a military application, we use drones for reconnaissance, aerial surveillance, and airstrikes.
Agriculture Use in the US:
It is interesting to know that 3 out of 4 US farmers are presently using agriculture drones to carry out their farm management practices, including soil health monitoring, pest and disease identification, and spraying. 73% of drone usage comprises crop monitoring, 46% soil analysis, and 46% livestock and determining crop health altogether. Farmers also use drones as sensors and for digital imaging capabilities allowing for a more detailed snapshot of their fields.
Business Volume and Market Share:
Do you know that the agriculture drone market is rising at a compound annual growth rate of 22.6% and predicts to reach 6.52B by 2026 compared to 1.54B during the early ’20s?
Flight Endurance Record:
Would you believe that Quaternium-Spain (Multirotor Hybrix) kept flying for 8 hours and 10 minutes? They are the world record holder with 490 minutes of flight endurance, whereas the previous record of 430 minutes of flight endurance also belongs to the same Spanish company.
The Quaternium-Spain used a 2-stroke gasoline engine in combination with electrical batteries that weigh about 55 pounds. It carries a payload of 22 pounds to fly at a speed of 50 miles per hour.
Agriculture Drones:
This China manufactured FD180P VTOL is a gasoline-powered UAV that can carry payload up to 40 kilograms for agriculture use and can fly at the speed of 100 kilometres per hour while its ground station can control it depending on the digital transmission in a 30 kilometres radius.
Drone Fireworks Earn World Record:
Ras Al Khaimah’s live illumination show for New Year 2020 set a new Guinness World Record using 196 synchronized pyro drones, simultaneously. This performance was the biggest show ever of most UAVs performing fireworks together at one place by the collaboration of SKY MAGIC and Grucci. It could be seen from 1 kilometre away. Grucci Fireworks is considered “America’s First Family of Fireworks.” and SKYMAGIC is among the world’s leading drone concert companies based in the UAE & Singapore.
Biggest Drone in the World:
Feihong-98 (FH-98) was developed from the Chinese transport airplane (Shefei-Y5B) into an uncrewed aerial vehicle that could carry a payload of up to 1.5 metric tons.
The World Smallest Drones Ever:
The SKEYE Nano 2 measuring 4 centimetres in length and weighing hardy 17 grams has capabilities to send live footage to your cell phone and is considered the smallest drone in the world because of its ability to access hard to reach places in search operations. Then, a tinier UAV version named Piccolissimo was introduced by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. It weighs only 2.5 grams. Its name comes after an Italian word meaning pocketable. It is used in swarms for search and rescue practices. The SKEYE and PICCOLISSIMO are the cheapest drones that cost between $29 to $50.
Firefighting Drones:
These dual firefighting drones developed by CHENGDU FLYDRAGON AVIATION-CHINA can carry a payload of up to 15 kilograms while their flight endurance lasts about 35 minutes. Their rocket launching power system can throw fire extinguishing powders and chemicals staying 40 meters away from active light.
Drones have become extremely useful for humankind. They can even measure radioactivity in nuclear disaster zones, carry out aerial reconnaissance during combat and collect biological samples from dangerous animals. Overall, drones have saved humans from many risky situations and have also assisted farmers by providing more precise methods of managing their fields. Drones continue to be a mainstay as long as the planet continues to incorporate technologies into solutions that promote sustainability for all types of businesses across many industries.