Economic Impact of Drones Projected
To Boost New York Economy
The Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) has designated one of its six designated sites at the Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York, to test unmanned aircraft systems in order to jumpstart the upstate region’s lagging economy. “Local officials, businesses, and Centerstate CEO, a regional economic-development, have worked for several years to position the Rome, New York site as a nationwide hub for drone research, testing, and manufacturing.” The “80 billion dollar question” according to James Poss, executive director of the FAA research coalition known as the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, is whether the government can create regulations for drones relating to delivering packages, monitoring crops, and finding people. It is his belief that these regulations will create a lucrative industry in the sky.
A Goldman Sachs report estimated that the global drone market would reach $100 billion by 2020, with $21 billion coming from commercial drone use. FAA has estimated that drone sales will rise from 600,000 to 2.7 million in 2020. The much anticipated foundation for a drone industry in upstate New York are starting across a six county region that includes major cities like Syracuse and Utica. For example, NASA has a contract with Oneida County for $5 million over 5 years. NUAIR, a non-profit who manages the site, will research unmanned and autonomous flight technologies. Besides this test site, there are many companies involved in developing technology that will enable drones to avoid each other and sometime in the future developing an air-traffic control system for drones. The drone industry can only reach its full potential if technology in these areas is developed because air-traffic will be so congested by drone deliveries of pizzas, Amazon packages etc. This plan got a huge boost in December of 2015 when the central New York region was awarded $250 million for drone initiatives by the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. This state funding will go towards building an indoor testing and certification facility, developing an air-traffic management system, and policy research. Also, this facility would be able to replicate many different environmental conditions. Anthony Picente, an Oneida County executive, said it best about economic growth, “In order to grow you have to have a broad vision and have to be bold.” The initiative is in its infant stages right now. However, one company, Pro Drones USA LLC, has already moved to the area and local officials are in talks with others.
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To Boost New York Economy
The Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) has designated one of its six designated sites at the Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York, to test unmanned aircraft systems in order to jumpstart the upstate region’s lagging economy. “Local officials, businesses, and Centerstate CEO, a regional economic-development, have worked for several years to position the Rome, New York site as a nationwide hub for drone research, testing, and manufacturing.” The “80 billion dollar question” according to James Poss, executive director of the FAA research coalition known as the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, is whether the government can create regulations for drones relating to delivering packages, monitoring crops, and finding people. It is his belief that these regulations will create a lucrative industry in the sky.
A Goldman Sachs report estimated that the global drone market would reach $100 billion by 2020, with $21 billion coming from commercial drone use. FAA has estimated that drone sales will rise from 600,000 to 2.7 million in 2020. The much anticipated foundation for a drone industry in upstate New York are starting across a six county region that includes major cities like Syracuse and Utica. For example, NASA has a contract with Oneida County for $5 million over 5 years. NUAIR, a non-profit who manages the site, will research unmanned and autonomous flight technologies. Besides this test site, there are many companies involved in developing technology that will enable drones to avoid each other and sometime in the future developing an air-traffic control system for drones. The drone industry can only reach its full potential if technology in these areas is developed because air-traffic will be so congested by drone deliveries of pizzas, Amazon packages etc. This plan got a huge boost in December of 2015 when the central New York region was awarded $250 million for drone initiatives by the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. This state funding will go towards building an indoor testing and certification facility, developing an air-traffic management system, and policy research. Also, this facility would be able to replicate many different environmental conditions. Anthony Picente, an Oneida County executive, said it best about economic growth, “In order to grow you have to have a broad vision and have to be bold.” The initiative is in its infant stages right now. However, one company, Pro Drones USA LLC, has already moved to the area and local officials are in talks with others.
Source
2015—Year of the Consumer Drone
Clearly, 2015 was destined to be the year for consumer drones with the arrival of China’s DJI “Phantom” and California’s 3D Robotics “Solo” offering easy to operate, affordable drones that are also capable of providing commercial applications.
Consumers were sure to be drawn to these improved models that provide easy flying, top quality photography and videography, and software tools that make them not only easy to operate but also ensure their easy Web application and at a price under $1000.
Both models permit users to build their own software applications and with their ability to stream high resolution videos and photography to the Web, these personal drones will increasingly see their commercial and public applications.
The next step these companies seem to be focused on seems to be making these drones capable of flying themselves, removing the operator from the process.
Source
Clearly, 2015 was destined to be the year for consumer drones with the arrival of China’s DJI “Phantom” and California’s 3D Robotics “Solo” offering easy to operate, affordable drones that are also capable of providing commercial applications.
Consumers were sure to be drawn to these improved models that provide easy flying, top quality photography and videography, and software tools that make them not only easy to operate but also ensure their easy Web application and at a price under $1000.
Both models permit users to build their own software applications and with their ability to stream high resolution videos and photography to the Web, these personal drones will increasingly see their commercial and public applications.
The next step these companies seem to be focused on seems to be making these drones capable of flying themselves, removing the operator from the process.
Source
Drone Perceptions Increasingly Positive
Drawing upon news headlines, cable programs, concerns expressed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and backlash from the NSA Snowden leaks revealing spying on U.S. civilians, one would think that Americans’ perceptions on drones were largely negative. This, however, is not the case. A recent national survey conducted by Duke University’s Institute for Homeland Security Solutions reveals 57% support for the use of unmanned aircraft (drones) for any application and 88% support for use in search and rescue operations.
Increasingly, the public favors the use of camera-equipped unmanned aerial systems (UASs) by 67% when used for Homeland Security applications and 63% support for their use in law enforcement. It is in the area of integration of drones in public airspace that has sparked concern among the public. Additionally, only 43% support their “everyday” use where they have no specific or stated purpose and 67% are concerned about their unwanted monitoring of private property or public spaces.
Another interesting finding is that public support for drones in commercial applications is high with some 61% of the public supporting such activity. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International projects that the drone industry will create 100,000 new jobs and generate an economic impact of $82 billion within 10 years of their commercial integration into national airspace. And while some states are imposing their own guidelines governing the operation of drones, the public seems to be much more receptive than the media might seem to indicate.
Source
Drawing upon news headlines, cable programs, concerns expressed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and backlash from the NSA Snowden leaks revealing spying on U.S. civilians, one would think that Americans’ perceptions on drones were largely negative. This, however, is not the case. A recent national survey conducted by Duke University’s Institute for Homeland Security Solutions reveals 57% support for the use of unmanned aircraft (drones) for any application and 88% support for use in search and rescue operations.
Increasingly, the public favors the use of camera-equipped unmanned aerial systems (UASs) by 67% when used for Homeland Security applications and 63% support for their use in law enforcement. It is in the area of integration of drones in public airspace that has sparked concern among the public. Additionally, only 43% support their “everyday” use where they have no specific or stated purpose and 67% are concerned about their unwanted monitoring of private property or public spaces.
Another interesting finding is that public support for drones in commercial applications is high with some 61% of the public supporting such activity. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International projects that the drone industry will create 100,000 new jobs and generate an economic impact of $82 billion within 10 years of their commercial integration into national airspace. And while some states are imposing their own guidelines governing the operation of drones, the public seems to be much more receptive than the media might seem to indicate.
Source