Drones are the future of military warfare. Drones can help resolve the war superiority status of the owner. They don’t consume manpower, as they are unmanned air vehicles. However, they carry weapons of attack. In the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine, drones have distinguished themselves and proved their prominence as an indispensable weapon of strategic importance. Drone manufacturing has assumed an industry status.

Any aircraft or flying machine operated without a human pilot, is called as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It can be guided autonomously or remotely by human operator using on board computers and robot. Drone falls in this category.

The first important distinction in the use of drones is between the drone itself (the platform) and the equipment attached to it (the payload). In this context, the drone itself can best be considered a flying platform which can be made suitable for different goals. These goals can be achieved in combination with the specific payload suitable for that goal. For instance, a camera can be attached to a drone to make it suitable for particular inspections.

Drones use rotors, which consist of a propeller attached to a motor. Hovering of drone in the air means the downward thrust of the drone is equal to the gravitational pull working against it. Drone climbs when pilots increase the speed until the rotors produce an upward force greater than gravity.

Package delivery drones can pick up an order at a warehouse and drop it off at the doorstep of the recipient. This is a case of a commercial drone. Drones could be used to tend crops on farms. They could run up and down the country’s energy grids, inspecting power lines and other infrastructure for problems. They could even fly transplanted human organs from one hospital to another, helping to save lives.

Imagine that we use a drone to inspect 50 km of power line. A camera drone can carry out examination of the power line up in the air. But the operator needs walking next to the power lines for the entire 50 km inspection.

The current industrial applications of drones are mainly for outdoor jobs. The profitable applications in industries such as agriculture, construction and infrastructure, energy, logistics and mining take advantage of its ability to fly quickly and safely at high altitudes. It can go to places that are difficult, hazardous or expensive to reach. Manufacturing operations are done indoor.

Drones are becoming more and more autonomous and easier for owners to control. As a result they are widely used in industries such as construction. In fact, in the coming year drones are slated to become more of a norm on the construction site. That being the case, many of those in construction are still unfamiliar with drones and their operation.

Learn how the four main drone controls – roll, pitch, yaw, and throttle – affect a drone's movement. Understand the parts of drone and what each of them does.

Quad copter frame

Motors

Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)

Flight Control/Board

Propellers

Radio Transmitter

Battery, Electronics, and Power Distribution Cables

Camera

In manufacturing facilities, drones compete with conventional technologies that can be mounted to fixed installations (such as floors, pillars, walls or ceilings) or moving installations (such as cranes, conveyors or vehicles).

Vision is the capability of collecting visual data, often in the forms of images and videos. In the manufacturing industry, examples are the visual inspection of equipment, such as gas flare, silos, boilers, drums, tanks, chimneys and pipelines (both above and below ground). These are common tasks in many process industries (e.g. petrochemical industry, offshore and onshore oil platforms). Drones equipped with the capability of seeing are also used to monitor the safety of staff, such as during maintenance operations where fixed cameras are not economically feasible. Some large plants apply drones to monitor security instead of closed-circuit television or human patrols. Drones are also tested in applications used to monitor of safety, ergonomics and regulatory compliance.

The act of motion is the ability of a drone system to grasp and carry objects or perform physical operations (e.g. spraying). A typical example in manufacturing consists of intra-logistics operations, such as delivering light components, spare parts or tools especially during maintenance operations. Drones can also be used to spray paint on the corrosion in equipment and buildings and to spray foam during fires.

For instance, a drone system with a camera can simultaneously inspect equipment and perform simple repair operations using mounted tools (e.g. patching, painting and sealing). Drones can perform pick up operations in a warehouse. Both examples are technically complex and not economically feasible in the current state of the technology.

In many cases, drones are an economical alternative to traditional inspections. These “see” capabilities could be enhanced to “sense” capabilities by integrating advanced sensors and software. Standard video cameras could be replaced by thermal cameras to detect heat loss from machines and buildings. Gas-sniffing sensors could be used to detect gas leaks. Laser or ultrasound sensors could be used to conduct non-destructive testing in hard-to-reach areas.

In many cases, drones are an economical alternative to traditional inspections. These “see” capabilities could be enhanced to “sense” capabilities by integrating advanced sensors and software. Standard video cameras could be replaced by thermal cameras to detect heat loss from machines and buildings. Gas-sniffing sensors could be used to detect gas leaks. Laser or ultrasound sensors could be used to conduct non-destructive testing in hard-to-reach areas.

“See” applications have a low analytical capability and a low physical capability. “Sense” applications have a high analytical capability and a low physical capability. “Move” applications have a low analytical capability and a high physical capability. Finally, “transform” applications are characterized by a high analytical capability and a high physical capability.