How drones work (all about UAV technology). Business on industrial drones How to open a drone

When we talk about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs for short), most often the military industry comes to mind. It is there that the most advanced computer-controlled aircraft are used. Some can be controlled from the ground using a special remote control. Others - more advanced - are robotic. That is, they are able to perform their duties with little or no human intervention. But the speech in our today's article will not be about military developments. After all, we are a business portal.

Therefore, let's talk about more mass models, as well as where you can apply them in your business. Moreover, UAVs can be used not only as assistants in an existing business, but also open up new opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. All this will be discussed in our publication.

Unmanned aerial vehicles are different

You should not think that a drone is necessarily an incredibly expensive aircraft stuffed with the latest military technologies and the most advanced weapons. Drones in our time have become very, very diverse. Both in terms of price, and in terms of manufacturability and purpose. There are even toys that are nothing more than radio-controlled aircraft. Such a drone can be bought quite inexpensively - within a couple of thousand rubles.

There are even better models. Those that can be controlled from a distance of several kilometers have numerous electronic gadgets on board and are equipped with very expensive videos and cameras capable of capturing impressive HD photos and videos. It is these unmanned vehicles that can be used to solve a variety of issues. Including in business. Or even as a business idea.

The cost of such devices can range from several tens to several hundred thousand rubles. And even more expensive. Depending on the size, configuration and tasks that the UAV can solve.

Delivery of parcels by drones

UAVs have very serious advantages over other "vehicles". They can quickly deliver a small package to anywhere in the city, bypassing traffic jams. In addition, they can be used to deliver parcels to hard-to-reach places where it is simply impossible to reach by car, motorcycle or bicycle.

Example one. The use of drones for urgent delivery of important parcels within the city. Such a service could become very popular. After all, with the help of small and maneuverable aircraft, you can deliver a package to any area of ​​​​the city in a matter of minutes.

Second example. Delivery of necessary goods to travelers. For example, the group went on a hike. To the forest, to the river, to the lake. Doesn't matter. And then they discovered that they forgot something very important. Let it be food. Or a gun to scare away wild animals. Or something else, without which it is very difficult in nature. You can only deliver the necessary items to the camp on foot. You can't go there by car. A drone could well “bring” everything you need quickly and without any problems.

Of course, these are too superficial examples. And such a delivery would be very expensive. But, in any case, it is already used in some countries of the world. So, this business has the right to exist. You just need to find a promising application for it.

Using drones for aerial photography

And this area of ​​UAV use is now gaining momentum and becoming very popular. Since a good video and camera was “screwed” onto the drone, the functionality of these aircraft has become even more in demand. After all, specialists in photo and video filming have got their hands on a truly great tool. Now they can shoot not only from the ground, from a hill or from a car window, but also from the air. Moreover, from very different heights. If something interferes with shooting, you just need to climb higher. I want to take an object larger - you just need to fly closer. And so on.

Where can you use aerial photography with drones? Yes, everywhere, anywhere. A popular trend of recent times is aerial photography of wedding events. When there are a lot of people around, everyone is having fun, celebrating, talking, it is very difficult for a cameraman or a photographer to get close to the young people to make a cool shot. The drone, on the other hand, allows you to conduct high-quality shooting and take beautiful pictures from a variety of positions, without disturbing the guests and the newlyweds themselves. You just need to make sure that one of the tipsy guests does not decide to knock down your “toy”. Just for fun, the way we do it.

Another option for using UAVs is to shoot commercial objects for sale. The buyer cannot quickly go around the huge building and inspect it from all sides. A drone allows you to easily inspect the object from all sides. Even in the most inaccessible places. Thus, the buyer will know exactly what he is going to pay a round sum of money for, and will not be disappointed after the purchase.

Want another example of aerial photography with drones? Please. It is also very convenient to shoot any sporting events from the air. Even the World Cup used unmanned multicopters (helicopters with multiple propellers) to film the game. It is very comfortable.

You can go on for a long time. After all, there are more than a dozen examples where you can use shooting from an unmanned aerial vehicle.

The use of UAVs in agriculture

The last example in our review of the use of drones in business. These incredibly functional and comfortable machines can be successfully used in agriculture to solve a variety of problems.

For example, drones can be used for constant and very high-quality monitoring of the state of fields and crops. With the help of aerial photography, you can control the state of crops, draw up maps by seedlings, inventory agricultural land, create field maps, etc.

You can also monitor the condition of the plants. Time to intervene in the process of their growth. And, most importantly, you can use expensive chemicals only on those areas that really need care.

You can also control the work of workers engaged in plowing land, sowing plants, harvesting and other important procedures. But that's not all. Constant monitoring of the fields from the air will help protect the future crop from encroachments by third parties.

That's all for today. You have learned about several ideas for using drones in business. They can be used both in your own business and as a paid service for other businessmen and entrepreneurs. You just need to find your niche and make the right offer. Good luck!

The only company in the world that actually delivered its products to customers using drones is the Russian Dodo Pizza, which in June 2014 shipped pizza using CopterExpress machines to people walking on the central square of Syktyvkar. During the day of work, six orders were completed for a total of 3270 rubles. The event was noticed by more than 300 Russian and foreign media, as well as Rostransnadzor and the Syktyvkar transport prosecutor's office. For violating the airspace and providing air cargo services without a license, law enforcement agencies asked to fine Ponfilenok 1 million rubles, but the court limited itself to a fine of 50 thousand rubles.

Oleg's passion for drones is no coincidence: his main business is the Live Bureau company, which provides equipment for various events. “Customers often asked if they could take panoramic shots from above. We bought a light drone, orders for filming and advertising rained down on us, ”the entrepreneur recalls in an interview with RBC magazine. At the beginning of 2013, he spun off this business into CopterExpress, but his main idea was the organization of express delivery in megacities: “Cities suffer from traffic jams, couriers carry a package for one and a half to two hours, although a drone could deliver it in 15 minutes.”

The key problem is the high price of the service. A pedestrian courier receives 60-100 rubles for delivering an order, the cost of delivering a cargo weighing up to 3 kg over a distance of 3 km using a UAV is 500 rubles, says Ponfilenok. According to him, with a decrease in the cost of the drones themselves, by 2016 the cost of the service will drop to 200 rubles, and in 2018 it will be no more than 100 rubles. at current prices. By that time, the entrepreneur hopes, the laws regulating the operation of UAVs will be ready.

Now only an aircraft registered with the Federal Air Transport Agency can obtain a license for air cargo transportation. However, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Transport, ultralight aircraft with a structural mass of less than 115 kg are not subject to state registration. “We are in the “gray zone”: there is no ban, fines are issued, licenses are denied,” Ponfilenok explains.

In the late 1990s, Belarusian engineers led by Vladimir Chudakov (pictured) created a vertical takeoff and landing drone - they managed to find their place in the world market (Photo: Anton Berkasov for RBC)

Flying without rules

Drones pose a danger to the movement of aircraft and objects over which they fly, in addition, there is no accumulated experience in the operation of such devices and statistics on their accident rate, says an employee of the Federal Air Transport Agency. “When the rules were written, no one guessed that such problems could arise. If you follow the letter of the law, then even a balloon with a postcard is a cargo transportation without a license. But this problem is not only in Russia, in the US and other countries, unmanned aerial vehicles are just as banned,” he adds.

In 2013, the US Congress instructed the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop rules for UAV flights by 2015. In November of this year, an FAA source told The Wall Street Journal that it is likely that commercial drone flights will only be allowed during daylight hours, at an altitude of no more than 122 m, and only within sight of the person operating the device. Such restrictions will allow the use of drones for video filming and promotions, but put an end to the plans of Amazon and Google. The companies have not yet commented on the news.

In 2015, Ponfilenok intends to create an association of owners of unmanned aerial vehicles and obtain the status of a self-regulatory organization, which will give it the right to develop rules and regulations for UAV flights. He hopes that the association will include law enforcement agencies that use devices in their work.

In mid-2013, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation created 12 flying squads for the use of unmanned vehicles, each of which operates five to eight light drones. With their help, patrols are carried out during public events, search for people lost in the forests, hemp crops, etc. Permission must be obtained for each flight, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported, but they could not promptly answer who issues permissions for the flight and whether these devices are registered with the Federal Air Transport Agency.

By order of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Transas is developing the Dozor UAV (left), and Zala Aero is supplying devices to the structures of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Photo: DR)

military order

The military and security forces are the main buyers and operators of drones around the world. In Russia, the military first thought about creating such devices after the conflict in South Ossetia in 2008. The project was undertaken by the Vega state concern, which received 5 billion rubles for development, but in January 2010, during a test flight, the Aist fell and exploded.

The project was closed, and Russia bought 48 drones from Israeli Israel Aerospace Industries for $153 million. With her, the Ministry of Defense agreed on the localization of production in Russia. The Ural Plant of Civil Aviation (UZGA), which is part of the state company Oboronprom, was chosen as the site. According to the company's reports, in 2011-2013, UZGA was supposed to supply the Ministry of Defense with 10 Forpost drones (a copy of the Israeli Searcher Mk II) with a total cost of 9 billion rubles. and 27 simpler devices "Zastava" (copy of Bird Eye 400) for only 1.33 billion rubles. The plant did not respond to RBC magazine's request for the execution of these orders.

After the failure with Aist, the Ministry of Defense turned its attention to private Russian manufacturers, including the St. Petersburg company Transas, which has a successful experience of working with the security forces. In 2011, Transas, together with the Kazan Design Bureau Sokol, won the competition of the Ministry of Defense for the development of drones with a long flight duration and impact vehicles for a total of 3 billion rubles. The main owner of Transas is businessman Sergei Generalov, the controlling stake in OKB Sokol belongs to the International Financial Club, whose shareholders are Ekaterina Ignatova, the wife of the head of Russian Technologies Sergei Chemezov, as well as the structures of billionaires Mikhail Prokhorov and Viktor Vekselberg. Tests of the Dozor-600 are scheduled for 2015.

UAVs of medium and small class of the Kazan company "Enix" are purchased by the structures of the Ministry of Defense and the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the Izhevsk Zala Aero produces UAVs by order of the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. “The last few years have seen an increase in demand for unmanned aerial vehicles from commercial companies,” Zala Aero told RBC magazine. Civilian clients include Rosneft and Transneft, which use drones to monitor oil pipelines.

In turn, the Belarusian Indela Design Bureau, which is developing unmanned helicopters capable of lifting a load of over 25 kg, has already entered the world market. “Today, all our customers are only state structures of different countries and different areas of activity,” says Vladimir Chudakov, chief designer and co-owner of the company. According to him, Russia did not attach importance to the drone projects, considering them not very interesting. “I missed the time, I missed the initiative. But there are strong teams in Russia, and they will have results,” he believes.

What is an unmanned aerial vehicle and how do drones work? You will find answers to these questions in this article.

It should be said right away that drones are constantly evolving: new technologies and investments in this segment lead to the fact that advanced models appear every month.

Drone technology spans everything from the aerodynamics of the craft and the materials used to make it, to the printed circuit boards, microcircuits, and software that together make up the brain of the drone.

One of the most popular models on the market is the DJI Phantom 3. This drone is in demand among people involved in aerial photography. Although slightly outdated today, it uses many of the advanced technologies that are present in the latest UAV models. This apparatus is ideal as a model for explaining how this class of devices works.

Now there are new high-tech drones on the market, such as the Inspire 2. The pace of technology development is simply amazing.

How UAVs work

A typical unmanned aerial vehicle is made of lightweight composite materials: this helps to reduce the weight of the body and increase the maneuverability of the device. The properties of such materials allow military drones to fly at extremely high altitudes.

Drones are equipped with various technologies, such as infrared cameras, GPS and lasers (to a greater extent, this applies specifically to military models). Drones can be controlled by a remote system, sometimes called a ground cockpit. That is, we can say that the UAV consists of 2 parts: the drone itself and its control system.

The “nose” of a drone is where its sensors and navigation system are located. Everything else is placed in the "body" of the device. The composite material from which the devices are made, in addition to its lightness, is also able to absorb vibration.

Drone types and sizes

UAVs come in a wide variety of sizes, with the largest being used most often for military purposes, such as the Predator. They are followed by medium-sized fixed-wing drones that require a small runway to take off. Such models are used to cover large areas, for example, for geographic surveys or anti-poachers.

Even smaller models are called VTOL drones. Most of them are quadrocopters. These drones are capable of taking off and landing vertically. The abbreviation VTOL stands for vertical takeoff and landing. For example, a small drone like the DJI Spark can be launched from the palm of your hand.

Locating and returning home

Many of the latest UAVs are equipped with two global navigation systems (GNSS), including GPS and GLONASS. Drones can fly both using GNSS and without the help of satellites. For example, DJI devices can fly in P-Mode (GPS and GLONASS) or ATTI, which does not use satellite navigation.

High-precision navigation is very important for drones engaged in mapping surveys, as well as for drones performing search and rescue missions.

The first time the quadcopter is turned on, it searches for and detects GNSS satellites. The GNSS system uses Satellite Constellation technology (satellite constellation). Its principle of operation is to coordinate and synchronize all satellites, which allows it to cover the entire coverage area, leaving no "blind spots".

The radar technology of the UAV, when the device is turned on, will display the following information on the remote control (RC):

• Signal that enough GNSS satellites have been found and are ready to fly.
• The current position of the drone relative to the pilot.
• Recording the starting point for the Return Home function.

Most modern drones have three types of this feature:

• "Return home" on the order of the pilot who pressed the appropriate button on the remote control or in the application.
• Low battery level causing the aircraft to automatically return.
• Loss of signal between the UAV and the remote control: in this case, the device also returns to its original position.

For example, the drone, when using the RTH (Return to Home) option, will detect all obstacles on the way back and actively avoid them. In low light conditions, the RTH function will work like this:

• When an obstacle is detected, the drone slows down.
• It stops and starts hovering from side to side and up and down until it finds a way around the obstacle.
• Then the UAV returns to its original position.

Gyro stabilization, IMU and flight controller

Gyro stabilization technology allows drones to fly smoothly and without jerks. The gyroscope must work at lightning speed to ensure a stable flight of the device. In addition, it provides all necessary navigational information to the pilot, i.e. to you.

The Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) monitors the current acceleration of the device using a combination of multiple accelerometers. Some IMU units also include a magnetometer, which serves to additionally stabilize the device.

The gyroscope is an integral part of the IMU, which in turn is an important component of the UAV control and measurement system. The Flight Controller is essentially the central brain of the drone.

Drone engine and propeller design

Thanks to their motors and propellers, drones are capable of flying in any direction. On quadcopters, they work in pairs: 2 motors and 2 propellers rotating clockwise (CW Propellers) and a pair of motors with counterclockwise rotating propellers (CCW Propellers).

They receive data from the flight controller and electronic speed controllers (ESC) and, in accordance with them, make the drone hover in one place or fly in the right direction.

Flight parameters on screen in real time

You can monitor the flight telemetry and observe everything that the drone sees using the remote control or a smartphone.

No Fly Zone technology

To improve safety and prevent flying in restricted areas, the latest drones from DJI and other manufacturers include a "No Fly Zone" feature.

These restricted areas are divided into two categories: A and B. The manufacturer can change and adjust the size and location of these zones with a firmware update.

Flight preparation

After turning on the device, it searches for GPS satellites. When the aircraft detects at least 6 satellites, the controller will display “Ready to fly” on the screen.

Internal compass and Failsafe function

Allows the UAV and remote control system to accurately detect its current location. Compass calibration is required to set the return point. After this point is set, if the signal between the drone and the remote control system is lost, the UAV will return “home”. This feature is known as Failsafe.

First-Person Video Streaming Technology

FPV stands for "First Person View" and means having a camera that is mounted on the drone and then broadcasts live video to the pilot's receiving device on the ground. That is, a person flying a drone can almost literally “see it with their eyes”, and not just watch the UAV from the ground.

This feature also allows you to control the aircraft more precisely, especially when it comes to avoiding obstacles. With its help, it is very convenient to control a drone flying indoors, as well as in cases where observation of the UAV from the ground is simply impossible for a number of reasons (for example, you sent the drone to a forest or mountains).

The exceptionally rapid growth and development of drone racing competitions would not have been possible without FPV technology.

These "racing" drones are equipped with a built-in multi-band wireless FPV transmitter. Depending on the type of drone, both the remote control and a computer, tablet or smartphone can receive the broadcast video.

Of course, real-time video transmission directly depends on the signal strength between the remote control and the drone. The latest drones, such as the DJI Mavic and Phantom 4 Pro, can broadcast "live video" at a distance of up to 7 km. The Phantom 4 Pro and Inspire 2 use the latest DJI Lightbridge 2 transmission system.

Drones like the DJI Mavic Pro use integrated controllers and intelligent algorithms to set a new standard for high-resolution wireless image transmission by reducing latency and increasing the maximum communication range.

FPV for 4G/LTE networks

In 2016, a new technology appeared that allows real-time video transmission with minimal delay using 4G. The technology is called Sky Drone FPV 2. It includes the installation of a camera, a data module and a 4G modem on the drone.

Firmware and update port

You can update the flight control system of almost any new drone using a PC using a USB cable.

The UAV can be described as a flying computer, with a camera and various sensors installed on it. Like any computer, drones have firmware - software that is responsible for the operation and control of the drone.

UAV manufacturers release updates to fix bugs and add new features to the device.

Flight LEDs

They are located on the front and back of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The front LEDs indicate the "nose" of the device. The rear ones light up when the battery of the device is low, so that its owner immediately notices it.

UAV remote control system

It is a wireless communication device using the 5.8 GHz frequency. The aircraft and remote control must be paired by default, which is called out of the box. This system includes a receiver built into the remote control and a number of other elements, which are discussed below.

UAV Frequency Extender

This is also a wireless communication device that operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. It is used to extend the communication range between a smartphone or tablet and the drone in open areas.

The transmission range can reach up to 700 m. Each such extender has a unique MAC address and network name (SSID).

As mentioned above, some models can fly up to 7 km while broadcasting video. This is a good advertisement for range extenders - that's why they are very popular among users.

Smartphone apps that turn them into ground stations

Most modern drones can be controlled both from a remote control and from a smartphone using a special application. Such applications completely replace the remote control, you can download them from Google Play or the Apple Store. Each manufacturer has its own proprietary application, for example, Go 4 from DJI.

High performance camera

The latest drones from DJI, Walkera, Yuneec and others have cameras that can shoot 4K video as well as 12-megapixel stills.

Many older UAV models used cameras that were not quite suitable for aerial photography. Due to the wide-angle lens, the pictures were often distorted. In the latest models, this drawback has been eliminated.

Zoom Drones

In 2016 and 2017, a number of gimbals with integrated cameras that support the Zoom function appeared on the market.

DJI has released the Zenmuse Z3, which is an integrated air zoom camera optimized for photography. The Zenmuse Z3 has a 7x zoom consisting of 3.5x optical and 2D digital, with a focal length range of 22mm to 77mm, making it ideal for industrial applications.

Then in October 2016, DJI released the Zenmuse Z30 camera. The Zenmuse Z30 is an integrated camera with 30x optical zoom and 6x digital zoom, up to 180x full zoom. This allows it to be used in industry, for example, to inspect cell towers to obtain detailed information about the condition of the wires and the structure as a whole. Zenmuse is compatible with the frequency range of DJI Matrice drones.

Walkera Voyager 4 comes with an incredible 18x zoom camera. This camera has the ability to shoot 360 degrees. Video is recorded in 4K at 30 frames per second.

gimbals

Gimbal technology is of great importance for high-quality photo and video shooting. The gimbal allows you to isolate the camera from vibration emanating from the UAV itself. In addition, with it, the camera can change the viewing angles. Most 3-axis gimbals are capable of two shooting modes: normal and FPV.

Almost all new UAVs are equipped with such a system. The leader in this area is DJI with its Zenmuse line.

UAV sensors

Multispectral, lidar, photogrammetric and thermal imaging sensors are used in unmanned aerial vehicles for high-precision mapping and aerial photography. With their help, you can receive digital elevation maps (DEMS), as well as data on the state of crops, flowers, shrubs, trees, and even fauna.

In 2016, drones with Time-of-Flight, the so-called “time-of-flight” sensors, appeared on the market to determine the distance to an object. These sensors can be used in a variety of applications, such as object scanning, indoor navigation, obstacle avoidance, 3D imaging, augmented reality games, and more.

The drone can be programmed to fly over a specific area using an autonomous navigation system. The UAV camera will take pictures at intervals of 0.5 or 1 second. Then these images are "stitched" together using special software and the result is a 3D map of the area.

DroneDeploy is one of the leaders in creating 3D mapping software for agriculture. Their latest product called Fieldscanner works with most of the latest drones.

Obstacle detection and collision avoidance technology

Modern drones are almost always equipped with such systems. The Obstacle Detection Sensor continuously scans the surroundings. At the same time, software algorithms and SLAM technology create a 3D map, which is processed by the flight controller and allows the drone to avoid collisions. This system uses one of several sensors to better recognize potentially hazardous objects:

• video sensor,
• ultrasonic,
• infrared,
• lidar,
• monocular vision.

Fall protection ( Anti Drop Kit)

Protects the camera in the event of an emergency UAV crash.

Video editing software

Having high-quality video software is important for both shooting and post-production. Most modern drones can shoot in Adobe DNG format, which is very convenient for later work with the resulting images.

Operating systems that use drones

Most of the drones run Linux, the rest use MS Windows. Also, the Linux Foundation has a project started in 2014 called Dronecode*.

*Dronecode is a project to create a free and open source platform for drones.

Latest high-tech drones

The lion's share of the innovative drone market is occupied, of course, by DJI. Here is a list of the latest devices to look out for:

• is a small drone that can take off from the palm of your hand.

• – a small foldable drone with anti-collision sensors located at the front and bottom. Super stable flight and 4k video shooting capability.

• DJI Phantom 4 Pro - with "Vision" collision avoidance technology. A multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle capable of aerial photography and photogrammetry. The built-in camera is equipped with a 4x zoom.

• DJI Inspire 2 - patented design and motors. Multi-purpose drone with gimbals and a camera designed for aerial photography, 5K video recording, photogrammetry, multispectral and thermal imaging.

• Yuneec Typhoon H Pro uses Intel's patented "Realsense" collision avoidance technology. Great for professional aerial photography.

• The Walkera Voyager 4 is a professional drone with an 18x optical zoom camera, making it ideal for search and rescue missions.

• The DJI Matrice 200 Commercial Quadcopter is a drone with a built-in dual battery, IMU systems and satellite navigation. Supports installation of 2 cameras (for example, cameras with a thermal imager and a zoom). Equipped with a video sensor, ultrasonic and ToF sensors. Ideal for inspecting hard-to-reach objects in order to assess their condition.

Intelligent Flight Modes

All of the above UAVs have many different intelligent flight modes. The Phantom 4 Pro from DJI stands out especially brightly against the background of the rest, having such modes as:

• Active Track (Profile, Spotlight, Circle) - active track;
• Draw Waypoints - draw waypoints;
• TapFly - intelligent flight mode;
• Terrain Follow Mode - terrain mode;
• Tripod Mode - tripod mode;
• Gesture Mode - gesture mode;
• S-Mode (sport);
• P-Mode (position);
• A-Mode (position in the air);
• Beginner Mode - initial mode;
• Course Lock - course lock;
• Home Lock - home lock;
• Obstacle Avoidance - avoiding obstacles.

UAV use

Drones can be used for a variety of purposes. When you install a camera or sensors such as lidar, thermal imager, ToF, multispectral and many others, the range of applications of the devices expands even further.

Best UAV Videos

Below are 2 videos that detail the UAV technology. In the first video, leading UAV specialist Raffaello D "Andrea will give viewers an idea of ​​the software underlying the technology of unmanned aerial vehicles. He will also talk about operation algorithms, control theory and design based on different models (the video, unfortunately, is not adapted into Russian language).

Military drones

The next video is a story that the present and future of military equipment belongs to unmanned aerial vehicles such as Predator and Reaper.

Two medium sized military UAVs currently in active use are the Predator MQ-1B and the MQ-9 Reaper. They were used in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The last few years have been characterized by significant investment in drone development, especially in the business and consumer UAV sectors. Technology has indeed managed to make a huge leap forward in just a few years.

According to DroneZon

Sales of drones - or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as experts like to call them - are growing steadily.

Analysts' forecasts differ from each other in details, but all predict the growth of the industry. Thus, according to the Teal Group of Virginia, the production of UAVs will grow from 4 billion dollars in 2015 to 14 billion in 2025. Add research and development, as well as software development, and we are talking about an industry of about 100 billion dollars over the next decade.

The commercial drone industry has started to develop actively relatively recently, but is already characterized by high competition. Chinese DJI Technology is trying to capture the top price niche in this market, while the French Parrot is focusing on its bottom. With hundreds of other manufacturers around the world looking to fill the skies with their drones, it might seem like it's too late to enter this market.

But only if you don't have an innovation plan, according to Aerosense Inc. is a Tokyo-based joint venture between Sony and robot maker ZMP. The startup will combine Sony's strengths in battery, image sensor and product assembly with ZMP's expertise in autonomous travel and systems integration.

Founded last August, Aerosense makes its own autonomous drones but doesn't sell them. Instead, the company is going to provide B2B data collection and analysis services using its aircraft: multicopter models and vertical takeoff and landing drones.

In addition to the GPS sensors, the Aerosense multicopter is equipped with an inertial navigation system that uses motion sensors and gyroscopes to determine its position using dead reckoning. The multicopter also has a built-in Sony QX30 camera, originally designed for mobile phones. It boasts a 30x optical zoom and a high-quality 20-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, making the camera's images rival those of mid-range DSLRs.

“Normally, the use of UAVs requires operators to operate them,” says Satoru Shimada, director of business development at Aerosense. “However, in the case of our autonomous drones, all you have to do is press a button and it will take off, fly according to the planned route, and land completely autonomously.”

Aerosense employees use a tablet or laptop to plan a route and set goals, after which the program itself generates an optimized flight path.

During the flight, the camera takes one photo every two seconds. After the drone returns, the received data is downloaded to a computer via a USB interface or Transfer Jet wireless technology, after which it is transferred to the Aerosense cloud server. There, 2D and 3D maps are compiled from them.

“Usually it only takes a couple of hours,” says Shimada. “So if the flight is in the morning, you will be able to see the results by the afternoon.”

Aerosense has already begun supplying construction companies with 2D and 3D images of construction sites. The time and labor savings can be really big.

The company is also negotiating with the Ministry of Lands, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on the implementation of filming of the country's cultural heritage. In addition, Aerosense is working with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to develop a drone for emergency use, such as delivering medical supplies to patients isolated after an earthquake.

For most of us, Intel is the world's leading manufacturer of high-precision technology and processors. But, the company is always ahead of everyone and tries to cover other commercial areas. So, recently, Intel developed and launched a commercial drone drone.

The company called its brainchild Falcon8+. This commercial drone is equipped with all the advanced technologies from Intel that enable the drone to perform complex maneuvers and travel long distances. And the waterproof case ensures the quadcopter's performance in bad weather.

The drone is capable of flying both in fully automatic mode and in manual control mode.

This commercial drone has high potential and business opportunities. With it, you can perform reconnaissance, inspect engineering structures, perform various cartographic work and solve other business problems. The use of such drones for the customer will be much cheaper than the involvement of special equipment, such as classic aircraft.