If you stare into the sky for any length of time, chances are good that you might see a drone heading your way in the near future. These light, relatively inexpensive, and versatile aircraft are catching the interest of amateurs, business people, and defense contractors alike. What began as projects for military use now have become gadgets for hobbyists. Also known as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) or unmanned aerial systems (UASs), drones generally are guided by a GPS and transmit data back to a base station on the ground. Most are equipped with an autopilot, a high-resolution camera, and real-time video, and the pilot can watch the drone by viewing a display attached to the base station.

Current FAA regulations state that drones can fly no higher than 400 feet, must stay within the owner’s line of sight, and cannot venture over airports or populated areas. Dozens of companies manufacture personal drones, which can cost less than $200, and many people build their own versions.

Amazon captured the media’s attention when it announced plans to deliver packages using drones. The FAA opposed this proposition, stating that drones had to be flown within sight of the controller and cannot drop cargo. Other commercial ventures, however, use drones for a variety of purposes. They include:

• In lieu of using helicopters, film producers secure a camera and fly the gadgets over movie sets.
• Sports photographers capture aerial footage, especially for events such as hang gliding, snowboarding, and downhill skiing.
• Farmers create aerial maps to manage crop watering and fertilizing.
• Conservationists track endangered species, secure protected nesting areas, and map natural resources.
• Scientists measure solar reflectivity of the Amazon rain forest, use thermal imaging cameras to measure endangered plant temperatures, and measure hurricane pressures and temperatures.
• Surveyors determine property boundaries.
• Journalists gather footage for news stories.
• Medical personnel deliver supplies to remote regions and retrieve medical samples.
• Firefighters locate forest fires.

Which drone uses discussed above interest ? that had the resources to own a drone, what uses would you find for this device?

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Based on the uses of drones discussed in the provided description several applications might interest different individuals or organizations with the ... View the full answer