What are the Pros and Cons of Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)?

Nowadays, drones and UAVs are becoming less expensive and easily accessible, giving rise to debates that measure their usefulness against legal and ethical concerns. In this article, we are highlighting the pros and cons of UAVs and Drones

Fremont, CA: Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are aircraft that can be operated and controlled remotely by a pilot, or by automation systems or preprogrammed plans that allow them to fly autonomously. Many industries and organizations welcome this technology, including government, military, commercial, and other users. Nowadays, these aircraft are becoming less expensive and readily available, giving rise to debates that measure their usefulness against legal and ethical concerns.

Keeping that in mind, let us look at the pros and cons of drones and UAVs:

Pros of Drones

Precision and Accuracy

UAVs support GPS, which makes it possible to program and maneuver them to precise locations. Therefore, UAVs can transform the agriculture industry as they can be used for different farming needs, identifying weed infestations, including spraying fertilizer and insecticide, and monitoring crop health. The precision of UAVs will save farmers both cost and time.

High-Quality Aerial Images

Drones are budget-friendly and great for taking high-quality aerial photographs and videos. The high-resolution images taken by drones can be used to create interactive 3-D models and 3-D maps, which can add significant advantages in various scenarios. For instance, 3-D mapping of disaster areas can help rescue teams to be better prepared before getting into the situation.

Cons of Drones

Safety

Safety is one of the major concerns when dealing with UAVs. UAVs need to be programmed with “sense and avoid” capabilities that are as good as those of manned aircraft to avoid collision risks. On a clearer note, drones must detect any possibility of collision and maneuver to safety. Drones with systems failures can cause severe damage if they fall on people.

Privacy Concerns

Privacy concerns are prevalent among the public about UAVs. Drones can collect data without attracting any attention, which makes many Americans worry that their Fourth Amendment right to privacy might be in danger