The global drone market is experiencing explosive growth driven by technological advances and rising commercial demand . It ’ s projected that by 2030 , the worldwide shipments of commercial drones will reach 9.6 million , with the UK alone expected to deploy as many as 900,000 drones . Victor Basta , CEO of DAI Magister , tells us more about the current and future roles of drones in our environment .

US $ 127 billion . Among the sectors that stand to benefit the most are construction , agriculture and energy .

Drones provide extensive applications across these sectors that impart substantial economic advantages . They can also help decarbonise these high-emitting industries , supporting global efforts to achieve net zero targets . Apart from this , the emergence of new use cases can unlock valuable new market opportunities and revenue streams .

Energy

With their exceptional manoeuvrability , remote data gathering capabilities and ability to autonomously execute tasks , drones are a powerful tool for improving operations and enhancing the efficiency of energy grids . Drone inspections of power lines cut inspection costs by anywhere from 28-55 % compared to helicopters , while solar farm and wind turbine inspection costs can be lowered by 50 % and 70 %, respectively . Analysing the data collected from these sorties can detect early signs of faults or damages ( e . g ., broken wires , corrosion , loose connections and overgrown vegetation ), allowing timely action to prevent more costly future repairs , power outages and energy loss .

At renewable energy infrastructure sites , routine drone inspections of wind turbines can identify defects or problems like corrosion or structural damage that would shorten a turbine ’ s service life . Rapid identification and early repairs prevent energy losses and reduce capital expenditure on replacement turbines , improving the financial viability of wind energy projects and making them more attractive to investors .

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