4 Drone Technology Trends For 2019

New technologies have become more advanced as time passes, and you can see these with the latest advancements that people have today. One of the most talked topics is drone technology, specifically drones and quadcopters.

Drones have been long used before for military purposes, and now, different industries have come to appreciate its uses in construction, agriculture and even in retail. As more industries use this technology, we can expect a lot of things to change.

Here are four of the most significant drone technology trends for 2019.

Regulations

2018 was a good year for drone regulations, and it may continue towards 2019. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has become more apparent on commercial drone use by providing guidelines and limitations on it. However, as drones become increasingly accessible for commercial use, recreational or personal drone use restrictions became tougher. This is primarily due to the fact that FAA now requires drone operators to pass certification to pilot a drone.

Another FAA regulation that can be expected in 2019 is the remote identification of all drones. Drone ID should help make the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management or UTM a reality. UTM will make people feel secure as it will assure them that the drones they see flying are registered and are being managed. This kind of regulation will also help pave the way for other projects like drone taxis and delivery.

Hardware

Drone experts are saying that 2019 is the year of artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors. You've already seen real-life applications of AI on smartphones, and you can continue seeing that trend going into drones.

The AI capability can help analyze the data being captured by the drones. You can also expect that manufacturers will try to combine machine learning with AI for better and more efficient commercial use.

Here are other drone hardware improvements you can expect:

• Nanotech - Through nanotech, drones could be lighter, more powerful and smaller. Some manufacturers are also talking about creating nanotech solar panels which could result in a longer lifespan.
• Better Gimbal Mechanism - Manufacturers and drone enthusiasts are finding a way to improve the gimbal mechanism of drones. With improved gimbal mechanisms, drones will have a more extensive range of viewing and smoother movements even with sudden gestures.
• LiDar sensor - LiDar stands for Light Detection and Ranging. This sensor measures the distance and the depth of an object using a laser. Drones with an upgraded LiDar can be beneficial in the agriculture and construction industries.
• Smart Features - Some manufacturers are now implementing smart features in drones such as autopilot and first-person-view control. Smart sensors can be added to help drones identify obstacles and evade them if necessary.

Anti-Drone Systems

The drone industry could also see an increase in anti-drone systems. Most people aren’t still ready for drone technology, and there is still a huge debate concerning privacy.

The anti-drone technology can be divided into two categories such as:

• Detectors - This kind of anti-drone technology will not stop the drone, but it can help detect when a drone is nearby and potentially provide information on where the operator is. Detectors are safe to use and do not pose any legal threats.
• Defenders - These things can harm a drone and even render it unusable. Defenders make use of signal jammers to disrupt connection from the operator or even spoofers that enables someone to hijack the device. However, the use of this device is considered illegal in the US as it can cause harm to others and the operator.

The legislation on the use of Anti-Drone systems is a still a bit murky, but with the rising incidents caused by unauthorized drones, you can expect tighter regulations and even legislation allowing the use of drone defenders this year.

DJI Even Becoming Bigger

DJI is a Chinese drone manufacturer, and they have a staggering 75% global market share. DJI has a vast portfolio of products for different drone use cases which makes them an undefeated industry leader.

The company’s success is mainly attributed to their innovation in drone technology and partnership with enterprises such as Microsoft. In 2018, they released two products namely, Mavic 2 and Phantom 4 RTK which targets industrial users. They were the first in this category.

This year, the company announced that they are pouring all their effort into research. This statement proves to be true as they have recently purchased a facility in Palo Alto, California to handle their research and development program.

Conclusion

This is the year of wider adoption of drones, better regulations and more importantly increased security among people. Commercial drone use will surely have unprecedented growth this year, but tighter restrictions for recreational users. One thing remains true, drones have made lives more comfortable, and these trends will help cement the drone industry for years to come.