Drones are rapidly finding their application in varied industry segments owing to their efficacy in data collection, surveillance, exploration, disaster relief and many other areas. As a result, the drones market is expected to register a CAGR of more than 15 percent and is expected to become worth USD 47.76 billion by 2025, as per a Mordor Intelligence report. Drone manufacturers are today producing various models that are capable of handling different sensor payloads as per the requirements of different fields. The trends emerging are bringing to light new commercial applications of drones every day, and experts believe that these practical applications are going to reshape the future of this market. Lately, businesses have started showing increased alacrity in using drones for their various operations, realizing the potential benefits of enhanced efficiency and prudent data analytics. With better analytics, they are able to keep an eye on their operations and understand their performance better. Moreover, the reduction in time and cost brought about by drones as a result of less human intervention is an extra advantage for businesses.

Varied Applications   

Interestingly, it has been seen in several cases that drones are showing potential of enabling novel business models, and the use cases encompass objectives starting with data collection to its delivery. Military is one of the areas wherein the drone technology is going to gain traction fast. With the increasing demand for unmanned vehicles for reconnaissance, the segment is going to witness an astronomical increase in investment. This is going to create new opportunities for drone manufacturers. Leading from the front is India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) that has its own program for production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The project is an attempt in the direction of replacing the unmanned vehicles currently being procured from outside India.  

“By providing early information regarding the movement of hostile troops, their posts, and assessing the battle situation effectively, UAVs are proving to be a major asset. They are also a useful tool for patrolling areas that pose a threat to human lives, especially for disaster management or relief activities,” says Sanjay Sharma, Vice President & Business Head, Cyient Solutions & Systems.  

Another sector that has seen a spurt in demand for drones is construction, wherein the conventional land surveillance methodologies are being revamped with an aim of reducing the labour and time required to collect the data. Similarly, there are many other sectors where drones are making a seminal impact.

With such applications across industries, drone technology is set to make its mark in a profound and pervading manner and it is going to give a new meaning to several operations in different industry verticals.