How will Drones Change the Future?
Hear that buzz in the air? That's a drone, an increasingly more common invention used by hobbyists and professionals alike. The first unmanned aircraft was created by Reginald Denny in 1919 and called the Radioplane. Although it may look far from modern day drones, it sparked the minds of many inventors, and led to the drones that we can see in the sky today. Drones are becoming a more common sight in the sky today as they are being produced all over the world. These speedy flying machines are used for some people, just as fun, but others rely on them as their job as aerial photographers and videographers. Drones could also be used for item transportation over long distances, as companies do not need to pay employees to drive or fly the package to the desired location. Some companies like Amazon have already taken advantage of this and shipped a few of their deliveries through the sky via drones. These machines are being built all over the world, and their are many different types of drones, from small, pocket sized drones, to full sized drones with cameras and advanced technology. The uses for drones are endless, from military to photography, to name a few, but probably one of the most beneficial uses for drones is that they do not require fossil fuel to operate. As many people know, fossil fuels are not a renewable resource, so the knowledge that we may be able to conserve some of this precious resource in the future by the use of drones is very valuable. Drones typically run on lithium-ion batteries which are a rechargeable type of battery that can be used over and over again. These are the same batteries that can be found in your phone. Drones haven't always been around, in fact drones as we know them today are relatively new.
The very first unmanned flying machine was created in 1919 by Reginald Denny, an actor during WWI. It is believed that Denny created the Radioplane for military use, and the Radioplane was created in this part of the world because this was a war zone, and drones could be very useful as they could do the jobs of some humans without risking their lives. In war, if one country put fighters in planes, and up in the sky, then those men were shot down, all of the information would be lost, but with a drone, they could send as many of them as they wanted in to the sky with very little risk compared to sending a human. The Radioplane was a very important invention for the whole world because it showed that it was possible to create an unmanned flying machine. This sparked ideas for many inventors across the globe, and led to the modern day drone. It is almost inevitable that someone would have had this idea eventually, but who knows how much longer it would have taken for it to become a reality. Without Denny, the modern day drone may not even be created today. Due to the fact that the creation of drones may have been delayed many years, this would leave a lot less jobs for people everywhere. Aerial photographers and videographers would be out of jobs if Denny had never had this idea. Drones can and will change the future in many ways like transportation, delivery, and photography. These amazing machines will allow humans to go where they never could before, like the bottom of the ocean, and distant space. The possibilities are endless with drones, and there is not doubt that without Reginald Denny, we would not even be close to where we are today in terms of discovery, travel and much more.
“Informit.” Drones, Drones, Drones |
InformIT, www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2433612
Naughton, Russell. Remote Piloted Aerial Vehicles - The Radioplane Target Drone, www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/rpav_radioplane4.html
Great stuff, I like the part about drones being used in war. How do you think drones affect our privacy? Are the laws being passed to ban drones just? What is your opinion on that?
ReplyDeleteThere is no question that drones do affect our privacy to some extent, but if there were any serious threat to us, like a drone from another country, the government would certainly act upon it as soon as possible, and shoot it out of the sky. As for our individual use, if the drone is clearly armed with a life threatening weapon, photograph it, and then you may shoot it down if it is on your own property, but you could be fined if it turns out that the drone was not endangering you. However, if the drone is equipped with something like a camera, photograph it, then you may call the police, and they will most likely be able to find the owner, and they may either be fined or have their drone completely taken away.
DeleteYou say that these machines are being built all over the world, and their are many different types of drones, from small, pocket sized drones, to full sized drones with cameras and advanced technology. Do you think in the future when the technology advances that these drones could be used for evil and or other countries could spy on us?
ReplyDeleteThis is possible, but with all of the regulations and security, if the drone did not have a proper license, it can legally be shot down, and it probably will.
DeleteWhen you say that the drones are speedy machine, is there any way we can put bigger motors on them to go faster.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is definitely possible, but at the rate that technology is increasing now, a motor of the same size that we use today will be nothing compared to a motor 5 years from now.
DeleteDrones may be good in all but isn't there a possibility that the drones could go off track or malfunction and hurt people?
ReplyDeleteSafety is a factor with all electronic equipment like planes, helicopters, and cars. Malfunctions happen all the time, but compared to some other dangers that the general public may face, a 5 pound drone is the least of their worries. Technology is also increasing and finding new and better ways for drones to do their jobs, and decrease the percentage of a malfunction.
DeleteYou say that drones are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Are there any other drones that use more eco-friendly sources of energy. If, so how long can these drones run and how powerful are they?
ReplyDeleteThe batteries that are used in drones are the same type found in almost every smartphone, tablet, and computer today. They do not produce any byproduct during use, and compared to cars, drone's affect on the environment is barely noticeable. There is research being done towards better alternatives to lithium-ion batteries like lithium-air and lithium-graphite batteries. It is hard to tell how much air time drones with these new batteries would get, but some drones are already capable of sustaining up to 90 minutes in the air. This, when paired with their speed, allows them to travel great distances.
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