New Drone News

Drones have been around a while now. We are long past the days when legal battles were being fought over whether a drone could be used for commercial real estate purposes. We now have a system put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows for reasonable licensing and operation of drones that seems to be working well. The rules have seen a couple of tweaks since they were first published. And there are numerous cities and municipalities that have enacted more specific and restrictive laws to better manage drone operation and use.

All of that is old news. However, there is no shortage of new… news. Drones continue to be used in more creative and innovative ways. Many start-up companies are conceived with new ideas on how to employ drones more effectively to solve real-world problems, save time or money, and complete ever day tasks more safely and efficiently.

Unless you’re combing the internet daily for the latest on drone development and employment you might not have seen some of the recent stories. I’d like to save you a bit of time and give you a few recent articles for your enjoyment and professional development:

Drones: A Life Saving Technology

Whether in search and rescue, first-responder services, or delivery of critical medical supplies, drones are saving lives. A recent report published by DJI asserts that drones saved 65 lives last year alone.

Drones Spark Software Startup

Drones are sometimes a bother to people on the ground who are not familiar with their operation and impeccable safety record. Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and developing software to help ease the bystanders’ discomfort of drones.

Drone Divisions = Innovation

Start-ups aren’t the only companies in the drone game. Well-established companies are exploring new technologies and ways to integrate them. Ford has even established a drone division and is investigating, among other things, lighting technology for drone identification.

Drone Defense Systems Popping Up

Amid concern for bad actors with drones, some are developing anti-drone systems. In Tampa, FL a company called Sierra Nevada is developing a mobile drone defense platform for a U.S. Department of Defense customer.

Drones Save Puppies, Too!

Finally, who doesn’t like a feel-good story about a drone saving a puppy?

The drone story is no longer about when and how we can use them. These days, the story is more like “what will they think of next?” And that question continues to be answered with more and more interesting and creative solutions. I tend to view the current drone world like the early days of the Internet or the introduction of the smartphone. I don’t think we’ve really even scratched the surface of the total drone capability universe. When it comes to drone technology, development, and news, it’s not so much keeping up as it is hanging on for dear life.

This post is part of the 2018 Future Leaders Committee content generation initiative. The initiative is directed at further establishing RLI as “The Voice of Land” in the land real estate industry for land professionals and landowners. For more posts like this, click here.

About the author: Caleb McDow, ALC, is a land specialist and vice president for Crosby & Associates in Winter Haven, FL. He holds a Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE), the CCIM Designation, and is a licensed private pilot and drone operator. McDow joined RLI in 2014 as a Military Transition Program (MTP) member. He is an active member of RLI, serving on the 2017-2018 RLI Board of Directors and as Chair of the 2018 Future Leaders Committee. He also regularly shares his expertise on real estate issues for various industry blogs.