Introduction
In the last two decades, the manufacture and use of drones have increased rapidly. Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) used in military, search and rescue, commercial, and civilian operations (“Drones” 1). Advancements in computer technol0gy have contributed largely to the development of innovative applications for use in drones as well as their widespread use. Drones were forts used by military organizations for the purpose of aerial surveillance and airstrikes. Originally, they existed in the form of balloons and kites. However, as technology advancement occurred, they morphed into semi-independent, partly automated aerial vehicles. Drones are an emerging sector of the aviation industry that has been received differently by the public primarily due to the possibility of misuse, infringement of privacy, and military use in combat. Drones are important, innovative, and cost-effective technologies that are used for commercial, military, recreational, and civil purposes.
Military use
In the 19th Century, drones in the form of balloons and kites were used by military organizations for surveillance. In contemporary society, they are used by military organizations to improve security by conducting surveillance on groups and organizations that pose threats to national security. Drones are used for this purpose because of their precision and accuracy (Bracken-Roche 167). In that regard, they are used to monitor people and groups without the possibility of being noticed. On the other hand, drones offer a bird’s eye view as opposed to a fixed, terrestrial gaze (Bracken-Roche 167). A bird’s eye view offers better surveillance with a three-dimensional view that is better for military activities and enhancement of security. The ethical advantages of drones include discriminatory attacks and precise targeting (Bracken-Roche 169).
In that regard, they enhance the safety of civilians during combat. The use of drones became a key element of America’s counterterrorism strategy owing to the security policy of President Barack Obama. The Obama administration used drones as a means of combat because it eradicated the need to rely on information from Pakistan’s intelligence services (Anderson 15). It was effective, convenient, and highly successful. Therefore, it has become a core component of the United States’ strategy on counterterrorism. The use of drones in counterinsurgency attacks in Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan against terrorist groups is proof enough that drones are an important component of security-enhancement strategies because they target both individuals and groups (Anderson 16).
Policing and public safety
The adoption of drones in the domestic realm has been highly criticized because critics argue that it infringes on the privacy of people. However, the technology is widely used by government and public agencies for surveillance and monitoring of the public for the purpose of enhancing national security (Bracken-Roche 168). The drone technology is primarily used in policing and public safety programs to collect data and conduct monitoring. Drones are effective surveillance tools because they lack an onboard pilot and the possession of remote vision (“Drones” 5). Their increased mobility and aerial capabilities make them superior surveillance technologies (Bracken-Roche 169). Moreover, they are less conspicuous when compared to other forms of aerial surveillance such as helicopters.
Safety and regulation
One of the main issues surrounding the development and use of drones is safety. In the domestic realm, drones are used for civil and commercial purposes such as photography and recreation. However, regulatory agencies and manufacturers are concerned that technology has the potential to infringe on people’s security and pose security threats (Bracken-Roche 167). The majority of policies and regulations enacted around drone technology are founded on safety. Opponents of drone technology argue that little focus has been placed on the issue of privacy and human rights. However, his argument is erroneous because industry stakeholders and public safety and transportation agencies are doing their best to develop and implement regulations to govern the use of UAVs (Bracken-Roche 168). It is important to evaluate the issue of privacy because regulating drone technology in order to enhance privacy could render it obsolete especially in the application of surveillance applications to enhance security.
Positive impact on civilian tasks
Studies have shown that drones have significant socio-economic impacts that have contributed to the widespread acceptance and use of drone technology. They are beneficial in transportation, communication, agriculture, environment preservation, and disaster mitigation (Floreano and Wood 460). For instance, farmers use them to monitor crop growth and construction companies use them to assess the progress of their projects. In the mining industry, the drone technology can be used to monitor and collect volumetric data of excavations while energy companies can use it to monitor their pipelines, cables, and other infrastructure (Floreano and Wood 460). Humanitarian organizations can use drones to monitor their work in refugee camps and during rescue missions in order to enhance the delivery of medical supplies and aid (Floreano and Wood 460). Fire-fighting agencies can use drone technology to assess the safety and dangers of confined spaces during rescue missions. Drones are used by logistics, security, and disaster mitigation companies.
Ethical concerns
Opponents of drones argue that they are unethical because they infringe on the privacy of people. Moreover, they argue that their use involves large numbers of civilian casualties, and the argument that they conduct discriminatory attacks is wrong (Anderson 20). Some of the public concerns regarding the use of drones include military use, misuse of technology, and privacy (Clothier et al. 1167). The public is concerned that terrorist groups use drones to launch attacks. Despite their varied benefits, the public is concerned about the risks associated with their use. The aforementioned arguments are baseless because every technology has benefits and risks. In order to evaluate the viability of the technology, it is important to consider the pro and cons. Drones have a wide range of applications that include aerial photography, infrastructure inspection, crop spraying, surveillance for law enforcement agencies, military combat, and monitoring during rescue missions (Clothier et al. 1168). Therefore, the benefits of drones outweigh the risks. Studies have shown that the public has not fully accepted drone technology because of a lack of knowledge on how the technology works and its numerous benefits. Public perception of the technology is likely to change as knowledge about drones increases (Clothier et al. 1171).
Conclusion
Drones are widely used in different sectors for various purposes. They were first used by military organizations for surveillance during the 19th Century. However, as technology advanced, they morphed in shape from kites and balloons to automated aerial vehicles. The technology has not been accepted fully by the public because of the lack of knowledge regarding drones, their benefits, and risks. Opponents argue that they infringe on the privacy of people and that they are a form of exaggerated technology that causes more harm than good. However, studies have shown that drones have numerous benefits that include military combat, aerial photography, infrastructure inspection, crop spraying, and commercial use such as recreation.
Works Cited
Anderson, Kenneth. “The Case for Drones.” Commentary, vol. 135, no. 6, 2013, pp. 14-23.
Bracken-Roche, Ciara. “Domestic Drones: The Politics of Verticality and the Surveillance Industrial Complex.” Geographica Helvetica, vol. 71, 2016, pp. 167-172.
“Drones”. EBSCO Information Services, Inc. 2016. Web.
Floreano, Dario, and Robert, Wood. “Science, Technology and the Future of Small Autonomous Drones.” Nature, vol. 521, 2015, pp. 460-466.
Clothier, Reece, et al. “Risk Perception and the Public Acceptance of Drones.” Risk Analysis, vol. 35, no. 6, 2015, pp. 1167-1183.