Emergent Technology: Drones - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Term Paper Sample)

Emergent Technology: DRONES
October 29, 2016
Abstract
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or as they are commonly known, drones have been developed since early 19th century. The human race has always desired to take aerial pictures, send messages using aerial vehicles and participate in war operating weapons remotely. The quest led to a succession of advancement of drones to the current sophisticated UAVs. Modern UAVs have great ability and are simple and small enough to be used for recreation and delivery. Others are so advanced that they can collect intelligence around the world and remain invisible to the radar system. War UAVs can carry and drop bombs on targets with high accuracy. These abilities have caused many social, economic, political and cultural implications like the act of killing by remotely operating a bomber, privacy invasion, safety measures for recreation purposes, noise pollution, wildlife disturbance and environmental hazards associated with their manufacturing.
Introduction
The recent rapid rise of drones also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) has brought about fascination, excitement, and concern from all sectors on all sides. Earlier on, drones were used solely for military purposes having very few dedicated hobbyists; drones have now exploded onto the public realization with spectacular images of mountain views, stunning crashes, and acrobatic product deliveries. By 2020, the drone industry is estimated to reach about $11.5 billion yearly. All but unheard of just half a decade ago, drones are here to stay (Floreano& Wood, 2015). This research study about drones will explore the impact drone technology will bring in regards to work, life, education, governing and social relationships. The essay is about an emerging technology of UAVs that are being found useful in various areas like warfare, recreation, and photography, and their implications like in privacy, pollution, and morality.
Drones are a continually increasing becoming popular and interesting technology emerging in the contemporary world. As engineers keep on creating various sensory technologies into the advancement of drones, its unsettling effects will become ever more visible. Whether this new invention is used for social or commercial reasons, it most undoubtedly is headed in the direction of changing the society both socially and structurally.
Maxwell, (2016)explain drones to be of two types. One is the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and the other is the unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) both offering the same service though the UAV is for commercial purposes while the UCAV is for military uses. Drones are a unique emerging technology meant to provide efficiency in existing systems by opening up entirely new markets and possibilities. The Drone technology is continually evolving with innovations being brought every few months to the market.
A glance at the future world gives predictions the potential of drones in regards to increasing revenue opportunities. UAVs are expected to deliver special door to door services, help in dissemination of urgent medical supplies as well as enhance precision farming I agriculture. Moreover, adoption of drones will improve how we view the world, enabling people to explore areas they would physically not be able to reach. Additionally, GIS services, as well as engineering survey, will be improved by this new technology.
Drones are being applied in educational perspectives in regards to the technology behind it as well as its improvement. Numerous high learning institutions are adopting and developing the drone technology with engineers working round the clock to devise highly effective drones for both military and commercial use. Kuzma, Dobson, Robinson & Williams (2016), have suggested ways in which businesses can capitalize on these new technologies particularly organizations majoring in the wildlife sector. Drones can be used for tracking wildlife thereby helping tourist guides with their activities.
Additionally, social institutions are adopting this technology, which is meant to influence the institutions both at the macro and micro level. On a micro level, the effect of education geared around drones will modify the way engineers and programmers advance the technology. The drone programs are expected to change the education system through the creation of new courses and specialized degrees focused on the drone technology.
Moreover, drones are expected to impact the economy by enhancing how people carry out their businesses. Future business, particularly in the agricultural sector, internet provision, and delivery services, will depend greatly on drones to stay ahead of the competition. With this technology inclination, it can be assumed that the drone technology industry will enlarge as it is still in the initial phases of its life cycle.
Nevertheless, the use of drones in industrial, civil, agricultural, military and scientific areas raises some ethical concerns regarding safety, surveillance, and privacy. This research paper aims to explore and suggest propositions in regards to the ethical development of the drone technology. Moreover, the paper will identify the various significance of drone technology, the problems that are expected to arise from the use of the drone technology, the benefits that will be brought forward as well as its impact on significant sectors of the economy and projected future. This research study about drones will explore the impact drone technology will bring in regards to work-life, education, governing and social relationships
Historical Timeline
Timeline of a drone
Drones History
Drones have come a long way since early 19th century. The quest for wider visibility, photography, military superiority brought the drones into a whole new level of ability. Amazon is looking forward to launching delivery drones, as it does so; let’s look at the history that that made the technology a reality in the 21st century. We will look at the early quest and development on aerial photography, spying and military actions that have got sophisticated gradually.
Balloons made the first stages of attempts to collection information and even conduct strikes from the space. During the early 19th century, kites were flown from a sea, aboard ships to communicate to other ships in the sea. This idea was probably what informed innovators of the idea of unmanned aerial boats that can pass information. During this period, the kites passed information just because they were seen. The Australians who controlled most of Italy are believed to have used balloons for either information collection or bombing in 1849. However, we are sure that in 1862 balloons were used during the civil war. Few years before the use of balloons in 1855, a photographer Gaspar Felix Tournachon patented aerial photographs and took a balloon photograph in 1858 (Keane and Carr, 2013).
The First World War then created a demand for weapons, intelligence and machines. One machine they needed most is something that could deliver a bomb to the target without fearing its loss. Journalist needed something that could take pictures in a war zone without endangering their lives. These gave rise to new innovated breed of drones. Reginald Denny who is a screen actor and model made what came to be known as the commencement of the new generation drones. In 1938 he made the nine foot R/C drone that was able to be controlled by radio. In 1940 he sold 15,000 pieces to the US military for practice. Unlike its predecessors the drone was able to change direction upon command, fly faster and less visible due to its shape (Keane and Carr, 2013).
There is a remarkable difference between the first drones by Denny and the last ones. In 1943, the Germans became the first to put the new technology into use. They remotely dropped a bomb on a target with an R/C model drone remotely controlled. They called their R/C model of a drone the FX1400 or the Fritz X. The drone also developed in photography. We saw the rise of usage of drone during the Second World War. In 1944, a journalist called David Conover shot a video using a drone in a wartime assembly plant. This technology has developed lately to make spy drones (Keane and Carr, 2013).
The MQ-1 Predator was the latest entry to the drone industry. The drone can stay aloft for over a day, fly kilometers with great accuracy. The predator was the birth of modern drones that are used in modern warfare and photography. The GPS systems have now enabled the drones to transverse the world ghostly and carrying thousands of pounds of bombs and destroy targets with unimaginable precision. Drones are also being used by consumers in local ceremony video shooting, management, and construction survey. Amazon is planning to start delivery of items using drones while authorities in many countries are seriously considering enacting laws to cover the use of drones by consumers (Kakaes et al., 2015).
The idea of drone technology started a very long time ago. It has continuously developed due to demand of the services and improvement of other technologies. The first item to be used as a drone many centuries ago was a balloon. It was used to send messages, warfare, and photography. It gave way to the R/C drones in the early 20th century. Those also were re-invented to the GPS sleek Predator drones that have killed thousands since the Second World War. We currently have very many types of drone from those used with normal people carrying heavy photography equipment to those military drones able to stay on air for hours delivering heavy bombs and invisibly collecting information.
Impact Analysis
Social Impacts of Drones
Drones have a huge impact on various aspects of social life. They are creating a difference in social classes, putting pressure on the low socia...