The amount of drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), in the National Airspace System (NAS) is expected to dramatically increase by the year 2021. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), this all depends on how quickly the regulatory environment can evolve. To encourage deregulation and facilitate the cost-saving utility of UAS across industries, businesses should take a multi-tiered approach to risk management.  

Could the same technology that’s currently being used for aerial pizza deliveries and capturing news coverage also be the solution to fixing America’s crumbling infrastructure?

That’s what researchers at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) are advocating.

Utilities spend millions of dollars inspecting infrastructure from power lines to pipelines, which are often in hard-to-reach, dangerous places. However, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, are set to revolutionize the way utilities industries solve inspection issues.

The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, in the electric utility industry is set to take off. There are many potential benefits of UAS in utility operations, such as maintenance and inspections, accompanied by time and worker safety benefits.

Many utilities industries are experiencing significant growth, yet current inspection and maintenance methods are costly, time-consuming and even dangerous.

There is a better way: Drones.

Commercial industry use of drones continues to grow and is expected to make an especially significant impression in the coming years particularly in regards to solar power. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, are in the midst of revolutionizing the renewable energy sector—as long as they don’t get their wings cut short by regulations.

In only a few short years, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also called drones, have evolved from paparazzi gadgets to valuable tools helping journalists and news organizations capture and share breaking news stories.

Not only for sports and news coverage, commercial drones are now increasingly being used for another relatively new frontier: film making. Aerial filming in movie production can provide audiences with more spectacular views than ever before. Now, celebrated television series and Oscar winning films are being captured with the help of this exciting, yet controversial new technology. 

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) displayed much of the latest in drone technology, from underwater Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to a selfie drone. But at this February’s NextGov “Drones for Good” event in Washington, D.C., we got a little more insight into the future of the exciting technology, particularly for commercial drones in government. The event explored the policy behind regulating this new technology as well as how drones may be used in the upcoming years to benefit citizens. It included topics such as search and rescue, medical supplies transport and yes, pizza delivery.

The holidays are now over and the latest wave of hobby drones have been unwrapped, filling the skies as we speak. Thousands of relative novices are now in control of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) across densely populated suburbs and cities. All that amateurish swooping may invariably lead to a few cracked windows and severe injuries. Subsequently, insurance inquiries are increasing.