2020 was an unprecedented year for many reasons.
It’s possible that pandemics will put a stop to community events and services. However, important businesses such as utilities, communications, and oil and gas were put under pressure to maintain the same level of key infrastructure operations without interruption.
The technology behind remotely operated robots and drones has received a boost in terms of its acceptance; in the past, drones were treated with skepticism and hesitancy on whether autonomous robotics could improve the quality of people’s lives or if they may take away from it.
It’s possible that a pandemic, a crisis, or a natural catastrophe are what’s required to force a reevaluation of the role that robots and flying drones play as the ultimate tool in crowded dangerous circumstances.
Innovative Systems break new ground for the Future
The notion of autonomous systems is no longer something that will become a reality in the far future; rather, they are now here. The technology is always improving, and new features are being added to drones that make them smarter and more connected. These are software-defined systems that are capable of data collection, connecting to the cloud, information analysis, and informing results. A growing number of these procedures and responsibilities are being taken over by automation. The following is what our ecosystem has to say about the development of the drone business in its many facets:
“The quickening of the pace in the drone sector in 2020 is unquestionably a pattern that we fully anticipate will go on into 2021, 2022 and beyond,” Cynthia Huang is the Vice President of Enterprise Business Development of Auterion.
“This year, more than ever before, we see the public seeing drones as more of a “tool in the toolbox” than a revolutionary piece of technology. This is a significant shift from previous years. This is a positive development! In the next year, we will witness an increase in the number of businesses that use this new technology and scale. The idea that drones are too “cutting edge” to be utilized by regular people is becoming less prevalent as time goes on. — Esri’s Imagery Solutions Architect, Jeremiah Johnson.
“The business of drones will continue to evolve, which means that everything will come closer to where it is now in terms of the manned aircraft sector. The progression from preliminary testing and pilot projects to full-scale logistical operations will be visible to us. I anticipate that the entry hurdle for new businesses will get higher, but that scale-up enterprises who have already shown that they have a credible business case will engage in fundraising efforts more often. By Patrique Zaman, Founder & CEO, Avy.
The impact of COVID-19 on the drone industry
The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the drone industry “With COVID-19 sweeping the globe, the world’s economies were brought to their knees and for the first time in recent history highlighted how quickly the basic services we’ve grown to depend on everyday may be disrupted.
“Since the pandemic has brought to light the inefficiencies and limitations of labor-intensive systems, the spotlight has been firmly placed on autonomous systems and their capacity to significantly improve the way in which we deliver goods, inspect critical infrastructure, and maintain public safety. We are most definitely not out of the woods yet, and the members of our panel anticipate that COVID-19 will continue to have an influence on the drone business in 2022:
“An end to the COVID epidemic may be in sight due to vaccinations, but the lessons and values acquired by critical infrastructure firms deploying drones throughout the pandemic only open the road for wider usage of drones in the future,” said one researcher.
— Cynthia Huang, VP of Enterprise Business Development, Auterion.
