Drones and Their Future Applications

Predicting the future of drones and their operational characteristics, including onboard computing, propulsion systems, and battery longevity, is fraught. We know that all of these system elements will improve, but the specifics of these improvements are somewhat elusive. New advancements in these domains happen frequently and they are routinely novel and unexpected. However, efforts considering how society might apply UAV technology to conquer existing local, regional, and global challenges are less elusive and easier to prognosticate. This chapter explores UAVs and their future applications within the domains of geospatial intelligence, disaster response, precision agriculture, medical services, and commerce and logistics. In addition, this chapter provides concluding thoughts and discusses policy challenges and implications within the context of individual privacy.