Drones are part of a dynamic ecosystem of new opportunities and emerging challenges that will shape of economy and communities into the future. Drone is a common term for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) or Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. UAVs are aircrafts which are remotely piloted or can fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plan without a human pilot on board.

A rapid development of drone technology has taken place, starting with the first flight by the Wright Brothers to the development throughout World War II and the Cold War, up to the development of commercial drones in modern times. Drone technology is advancing rapidly and growing at an exponential rate.

Despite the fact that the technology has been around for some time, both the industry and the government are now becoming more aware. Even though regulations on UAS in India are in the draft phase, this has not stopped organizations from evaluating and leveraging the potential of this emerging technology.

Globally, countries like the US and China have created a conducive environment for organizations to benefit from the applications of UAS and its associated technologies.

Understanding the Drone Ecosystem