Understanding The Drone Space And Embracing Its Solutions

As we approach a more air mobile society, we are encountering more and more unfamiliar technology and technical jargon: ‘Drone’, ‘drone space’ and ‘UAV.’

- Tavis Sartin

It’s not only necessary to understand what these and other terms mean, but a better understanding of the technology will lead to a smoother adoption thereof. In order to best understand what the ‘drone space’ is, we must first clarify what we understand under the term ‘drone’.

The term ‘drone’ refers to any unpiloted (that is unmanned) craft. Similar terms used to describe drones include ‘UAV’ or ‘UAS’ (unmanned aerial vehicle or unmanned aerial systems respectively). While there are some legislative and technical specifications that distinguish a ‘drone’ from a ‘UAV’, they ostensibly refer to the same thing: a craft capable of operating without a pilot onboard.

Unmanned aircraft have, for some time now, been used in military and para-military applications. Drones began to move outside the military space sometime in the early 2010s, where they provided new recreational applications in aerial photography, racing and flying for the average consumer. It is only relatively recently that drones have gotten a real foothold in the recreational and commercial space, and businesses and governments are now beginning to understand the true potential for commercial drone applications and the true breadth of the ‘drone space’.

The ‘drone space’ refers to any area in which drones have a potential application. As our knowledge of drones deepens and as drone technology continues to improve, that space continues to grow each day as more and more uses for drones and UAVs are discovered and embraced.