“Drones overall will be more impactful than I think people recognize, in positive ways to help society.”

Bill Gates, Businessman

Advantages & Disadvantages of Drones

The use of drones has become quite popular over the past years.

Drones can help us in various parts of our daily life.

However, apart from the many advantages of drones, there are still some problems related to the use of those unmanned aerial vehicles.

In this article, the pros and cons of drones are discussed.

Audio Lesson

Advantages of Drones

1. Drones can help us with delivery
2. Drones can help us with dangerous tasks
3. Can help to explore areas without having to be present in person
4. Can be used to solve conflicts
5. Drones can be used in agriculture
6. May be helpful for cloud seeding
7. Drones can help us to create 3-D maps
8. Drones can be navigated with the help of GPS
9. Can help us to create amazing pictures
10. Drones are a nice toy for many people
11. You don’t need a driver’s license in many countries
12. Drones can help with food delivery after natural disasters
13. Drones can be used in a selective manner
14. Fields of application are almost endless
15. Drones are cheaper than helicopters or planes
16. Drones are harder to detect
17. May become a quite important technology in the future
18. Additional jobs in the drone industry
19. Drones can be used 24/7
20. Can protect people to suffer from negative experiences in military operations

Drones can help us with delivery

One important benefit of drones is that they can greatly assist us with all sorts of delivery.

Especially in big cities, drones may become a major tool for parcel delivery companies to deliver their parcels to customers.

The advantage of drones is that they will not get stuck in traffic.

They could just land on the balcony of the respective flat and drop off packages without ever having to use our streets.

In turn, there would also be fewer vehicles on our streets, which could benefit all of us since traffic jams would become less likely.

Hence, drones are quite a promising technology that could greatly facilitate the overall parcel delivery process in the near future.

Drones can help us with dangerous tasks

Drones can also assist us with various tasks that could be potentially dangerous for human workers.

For instance, instead of sending people to unchartered territory which could result in injuries or even fatalities, drones could be used since they can be controlled from many miles away.

Therefore, drones can also make certain jobs safer for humans since humans no longer have to get themselves in dangerous situations in many cases.

Can help to explore areas without having to be present in person

In general, drones can be quite useful to explore certain areas without actually having to be present in person.

This can not only be beneficial from a safety perspective, it can also be quite economical.

Through the use of drones, fewer people will have to be present in person, which also implies lower labor costs.

Moreover, drones can also be used in areas where humans would not be able to get to.

Can be used to solve conflicts

Drones can also be used to solve conflicts all over the world. Instead of sending soldiers to areas that are currently subject to conflicts, drones can be used and many lives can be saved in the long run.

Hence, drones can also play a major role for military purposes and may be the future when it comes to solving conflicts on a global level.

Drones can be used in agriculture

Another upside of drones is that they can also be used for agricultural purposes.

In fact, drones can greatly improve the efficiency of processes in agriculture since far less manual work would be needed if drones were used on a large scale.

For instance, drones could help with the irrigation of fields.

Moreover, they could also be used for the application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.

The more work can be done by drones, the less work has to be done by farmers.

In turn, farmers would have more time for their families or for other hobbies they like.

Therefore, drones could also increase the yields as well as the overall quality of life of farmers in many countries all over the world.

May be helpful for cloud seeding

Cloud seeding is a technology that has become increasingly popular over the past years.

With cloud seeding, we have a tool that allows us to control the weather and rainfall to a certain extent.

However, in order to work, plenty of chemicals have to be sprayed into the air.

In order to do so, airplanes have to be used on a regular basis.

Yet, the processes that are needed for cloud seeding could be made much more efficient by using drones instead of planes for it.

In turn, the adverse effects of cloud seeding on our environment could be lowered as well.

Drones can help us to create 3-D maps

Another major advantage of the use of drones is that they can help us to create 3-D maps of every area we want.

In fact, drones are the future when it comes to the production of those maps and especially in our digital age, it is crucial that we improve our technology.

In fact, 3-D maps are the future and will soon replace conventional maps.

Drones can be navigated with the help of GPS

Drones are also relatively easy to navigate.

If they are programmed in a proper manner, drones can be sent to basically every location you want.

In fact, many drones use GPS and if you give them the coordinates of the respective goals, they will often be able to fly to this goal without any human intervention.

Hence, drones can also be considered as quite convenient from a navigational perspective.

Can help us to create amazing pictures

Drones can also help us to create amazing pictures.

They enable us to take pictures from hundreds or even from thousands of meters above the ground.

In turn, the perspective of those pictures will be completely different.

Consequently, if we use drones for photography, we will have an important additional tool and plenty of opportunities that had never been available to us in the history of mankind.

Drones are a nice toy for many people

Apart from the many useful features of drones, they are also just a nice toy for many people all over the world.

In fact, flying drones has become a quite nice hobby and there are many forums and other discussion boards where people exchange their ideas about this hobby.

Thus, if you are currently looking for another hobby for your leisure and like to try out new things, flying drones may be a suitable hobby for you.

You don’t need a driver’s license in many countries

Another pro of drones is that you don’t need a driver’s license for drones in many countries of our planet.

In fact, in many countries, you can just order your drone and you are ready to go.

However, make sure that you practice in areas where there are no people around in case you lose control over your drone so that you don’t hurt anybody in case something goes wrong.

Drones can help with food delivery after natural disasters

Drones can also greatly help the local population after natural disasters.

For instance, after earthquakes, many people will be cut off from the rest of the world since streets will no longer be suitable for vehicle use.

In turn, the supply of food and water may break down and people may no longer be able to get enough things for daily life to survive.

In such an extreme situation, it can be extremely useful to have drones in place that could carry food, water or medical equipment to those regions so that people can survive the first weeks and can get the power to rebuild the public infrastructure.

Drones can be used in a selective manner

Drones can also be used in a quite selective manner.

This is especially useful when it comes to conflicts that need to be solved.

For instance, attacking certain important infrastructures become possible without hurting the local population who lives nearby too much.

Therefore, the use of drones could also save many lives in the long run.

Fields of application are almost endless

Drones can be used in a variety of different fields.

In fact, the fields of application of drones are almost endless and I am quite confident that we will use drones for many additional purposes in the near future.

Drones are cheaper than helicopters or planes

The use of drones can also make sense from a financial perspective.

In fact, drones are much cheaper compared to helicopters and planes and when it comes to operations that do not require carrying heavy weight, drones could replace planes or helicopters and save us plenty of resources and money.

Drones are harder to detect

Drones also have the advantage that they are quite difficult to detect.

While planes and helicopters are rather big and easy to spot, drones are rather small and may be able to fly over certain areas unnoticed.

May become a quite important technology in the future

Drones are the future in various different fields and it is therefore crucial that countries all over the world invest in research and development regarding drones.

In fact, drones can make our lives much easier and will be an important tool to improve the efficiency of processes in the near future.

Additional jobs in the drone industry

Proponents of drones also often claim that there are many jobs that depend on the drone industry.

In fact, drones have become increasingly popular over the past decade and thousands of people work in this field.

Since chances are that drones will become even more popular in the near future, the drone industry may become a quite important industry branch that could provide millions of jobs on a global scale.

Drones can be used 24/7

Another upside of the use of drones is that drones are available 24/7.

In contrast to humans, drones will have no real limit to operation times and can be used whenever they are needed.

Hence, drones can also be much more reliable and productive than humans and will therefore become an important alternative to operations where humans have to be present.

Can protect people to suffer from negative experiences in military operations

Drones can also protect many people from negative experiences.

In fact, many people who joined the army will suffer from serious mental issues in the long run since they will see many unpleasant things during their careers.

However, if drones can carry out many operations, those soldiers will no longer have to be present in person and the number of mental conditions related to military operations may also drop significantly.

Disadvantages of Drones

1. Drones may pose a danger to aircraft
2. Drones may be a risk to the general public
3. Relatively new technology that is not mature yet
4. Lack of regulation regarding drones can cause problems
5. Flying drones needs some practice
6. Potential insurance problems
7. Drones may not be allowed in certain areas
8. People may overestimate their ability to fly drones
9. Privacy concern regarding drones are quite common
10. Opponents of drones often claim that they are not safe
11. Drones for private persons can be costly
12. Drones can be dangerous in the wrong hands
13. Use of drones is hard to control in an international context
14. Limited range of drones
15. Drones cannot carry too much weight

Drones may pose a danger to aircraft

Apart from the many advantages of drone use, there are still some problems related to this technology.

For instance, one important downside of drones is that they can pose a serious danger to aircraft.

In fact, drones are observed near airports on a regular basis and if those drones collide with planes, this can lead to serious accidents.

Hence, if you want to get a drone, make sure that you don’t use it near airports in order to protect the passengers of airplanes and helicopters.

Drones may be a risk to the general public

In general, drones can also be a significant risk to the general public.

Nothing is 100% safe and also drones will crash from time to time.

In turn, if a drone breaks down in the air, chances are that it will fall down to the ground with rapid speed and it can potentially hit people who go for a walk nearby.

Hence, especially in areas that are densely populated, the use of drones may be a serious threat to the local population.

Relatively new technology that is not mature yet

Another problem with drones is that they are a rather new technology which is not quite mature yet.

In fact, drones have become quite popular over the past years.

Yet, they are still optimized on a regular basis and it will take many additional years to make this technology really efficient.

Thus, in the near future, drones may rather be a nice-to-have instead of a real solution for problems.

Lack of regulation regarding drones can cause problems

There is also an issue with the rules and regulations related to drone use.

In fact, in many countries all over the world, there are still no proper regulations in place that would set a framework for drone use in the private as well as in the commercial sector.

In turn, people may not be aware of the many dangers related to drone use and may also be insecure regarding what they are allowed to do and what is prohibited.

Hence, in order to give people and companies more security regarding drone use, governments should introduce proper rules and regulations in this field.

Flying drones needs some practice

Another disadvantage of drones is that the operation of drones is not that easy.

In fact, it takes plenty of time until a beginner will learn how to fly a drone in a secure manner and many people may not want to invest this amount of time.

Consequently, if you are a rather impatient person, flying drones may not be the right hobby for you.

Potential insurance problems

Drones can also be problematic from an insurance perspective.

In fact, many insurance companies will refuse to pay in case of drone accidents and many insurance policies also don’t include any information regarding drone use at all.

Thus, operating drones can lead to serious financial issues since you will often be personally liable in case of accidents.

Drones may not be allowed in certain areas

Many countries also prohibit drone use in certain areas.

For instance, if you live near an airport, you will often not be allowed to use your drone since it could be a potential danger to planes.

Moreover, there will be various other spots where drone use will not be allowed and you should inform yourself about this in order not to get fined.

People may overestimate their ability to fly drones

Another problem with drone use is that many people simply overestimate their abilities to operate a drone.

Especially beginners often think that they have everything under control. Yet, they are often wrong and cause serious accidents.

Thus, if you fly a drone for the first time, make sure that you do this in remote areas where you cannot do any damage to other people and also make sure not to overestimate your abilities in order to avoid accidents.

Privacy concern regarding drones are quite common

Opponents of drones often also often claim that drones are problematic from a privacy perspective.

In fact, since drones are able to take pictures from people who are actually not aware of it, the use of drones will indeed imply some privacy issues.

Drones could even be used by private detectives to observe people.

Hence, if we want to protect our privacy, we may not want to use drones on a large scale.

Opponents of drones often claim that they are not safe

There are also several safety issues related to drone us. In fact, since the technology behind drones is rather immature yet, the risk for accidents is not that small and in order to protect the general public, drone use should be restricted until drones have been proven to be safe.

Drones for private persons can be costly

If you consider buying a drone right now, you will realize that you will have to invest several thousands of dollars.

Hence, drones are not a cheap hobby and in case you cause an accident, you may also face several additional costs since you will be liable for any damage you cause to third parties.

Therefore, if you really want to buy a drone, make sure that you are covered by your insurance in case of emergency.

Drones can be dangerous in the wrong hands

While drones can do many positive things when they are used in a senseful manner, they can also be quite dangerous if they end up in the wrong hands.

In fact, fundamentalists could use drones for their purposes, which could lead to quite unpleasant outcomes.

Use of drones is hard to control in an international context

Since the legal framework regarding drones is still rather unclear in many countries all over the world, the use of drones may also be hard to control in an international context.

In fact, it is rather unclear how to deal with drones that cross borders and in the worst case, this kind of drone use may start serious conflicts in the respective region.

Limited range of drones

In our current state of the world, drones still have a rather limited range.

Hence, while they are suitable to carry out operations over rather limited distances, they will not be suitable for long-distance operations yet.

Drones cannot carry too much weight

Drones are also not able to carry heavy weight yet.

Plenty of research will still be needed to make this possible and it will likely take many years before drones will be able to carry heavy weight over longer distances.

Top 10 Drones Pros & Cons – Summary List

Drones Pros	Drones Cons
Drones can help for delivery purposes	Drones can be expensive
Can take danger out of certain tasks	Drones have a quite limited range
May be used to solve conflicts	Can often not carry heavy weight
Drones can be useful for agriculture	Drones can be dangerous near airports
Drones can be fun	Insurance problems related to drones
Drones can help to take amazing pictures	Technology is not mature yet
Can help to create 3-D maps	Drones may not be entirely safe
Many different fields of application of drones	Privacy concerns related to drone use
Drones can be used 24/7	Potentially dangerous in the wrong hands
Many jobs rely on the drone industry	People often overestimate their abilities

Should We Use Drones?

As we can see from the previous discussion, there are many advantages and disadvantages of drone use.

In my opinion, drones can help us in various parts of our daily life in the future and we should use them whenever it makes sense.

However, having that said, governments around the world should also introduce proper rules and regulations regarding drone use in order to minimize the negative effects of drones.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle

https://www.conexpoconagg.com/News/Top-15-Tips-for-Flying-a-Drone

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/7-tips-starting-drones

About the author

My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people of all ages about our environmental problems and how everyone can make a contribution to mitigate these issues.

As I went to university and got my Master’s degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics.

After finishing university, I traveled around the world. From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet.

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