UAVs — What They Mean For The World

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are a type of aircraft that can be controlled remotely by a human operator or autonomously using complex automation systems and pre-programmed flight plans. Over time, there has been a significant rise in the importance of UAVs to different industries. These aircraft have been used extensively in the military for combat while also being extremely useful in disaster relief, agriculture, and research and development. Before delving further into the various benefits and problems associated with UAVs, it is essential to take a trip down memory lane to gain a brief insight into where this technology all started and its rise ever since.

To begin with, unmanned vehicles were first developed during the First World War in Britain and the USA. In March 1917, Britain tested out a tiny radio-controlled aircraft dubbed the ‘Aerial Target’ while the USA invented an aerial torpedo called the ‘Kettering Bug’ that first flew in October 1918. In the end, neither was used in World War I. Furthermore, reconnaissance UAVs were initially used during the Vietnam War. Eventually, drones started to be deployed in different roles, for launching missiles against specific targets and even for psychological operations, conveying important information. After the end of the Vietnam War, countries across the globe excluding Britain and the USA began to explore UAVs. This led to the creation of more sophisticated and efficient UAVs, some of which could be powered using solar energy from the sun to ensure a longer duration of flights.

Now that we have established a sense of context, it is essential to explore the different uses of UAVs and understand why this modern-day invention has proved useful. Firstly, UAVs have been used extensively in agriculture by farmers and agronomists to monitor and collect relevant data related to their crops. Drones can collect raw data and process it into useful information using algorithms. They can, therefore, be used to monitor parameters such as the health of crops, the state of the soil, and the water needs of fields. Moreover, drones use RGB, infrared cameras and a slew of sensors to capture high-resolution images to monitor crop conditions.

In a nutshell, they help farmers optimize their use of fertilizers, seeds, and water requirements. This allows crops to be protected from pesticides while ensuring that they are of the highest quality possible. It saves a considerable amount of time and effort. In addition to agriculture, drones have been deployed in the military. They have been used in anti-terror operations to provide efficient surveillance through high-resolution cameras to detect stationary and moving targets. Furthermore, they are an essential part of border monitoring for countries across the globe, as they allow for real-time reconnaissance to take place while also allowing nations to track activities taking place along their borders.

Moreover, as an example, the United States used the ‘Predator’ drone in 2000 to identify Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan. Back then, drones and UAVs, in general, did not have any offensive capabilities as they do now. A few of the prominent, major drone powers of the world today include the United States and Israel. The United States has been a pioneer in drone technology, for its military has had an enormous amount of experience with the overall architecture and use of UAV technology. Israel, like the U.S, has extensive experience with drone technology, having invested capital into the development of the technology. It allows them to keep tabs on surrounding regions such as the West Bank, Gaza, and parts of Syria. In addition to these two, nearly 100 countries have acquired drones today, such as Turkey, Iran, and China. Israel is a major exporter of drone technology alongside China which exports drones to more than 20 countries for military purposes.

Furthermore, UAVs have proven to be beneficial in disaster management. Drones can be used in callous situations to capture valuable images for communication and coverage, assess the damage done in inaccessible areas, and even search for survivors impacted by these disasters. Back in 2015, when a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal, it led to the demise of over 7,500 individuals and the destruction of infrastructure. This prompted medical aid organisations to deploy drones to search for and rescue affected individuals, assess the damage done and capture images of areas that may have been potentially inaccessible. Collecting essential information in such a situation allowed organizations to identify the worst-hit areas and send rescue workers where necessary.

On the contrary, while it is evident that drones have a range of advantages and benefits, inevitably, there are several downsides associated with them that are worth taking note of as well. One of the major downsides of UAVs is that they will gradually take away jobs in industries such as agriculture, surveillance, and even parcel delivery once employed on a larger scale. Furthermore, operating certain drones requires highly trained pilots, who may also face a certain amount of difficulty controlling these machines as they can easily be affected by bad weather conditions and strong winds. Failure to do so can potentially cause damage to property or serious injury to individuals. In addition to that, drones can present serious privacy concerns. They can be used to intrude on people due to their small size and advanced technology. In 2018, a family on a beach in New Zealand were followed and recorded by a drone without any permission. This is a clear example of how drones can violate the privacy of individuals without any authorization.

In conclusion, as mentioned in an article from the Times of India (TOI) edit page, UAVs may potentially be the dark future of war, a medium through which countries can exploit each other regardless of their stature otherwise. For instance, in 2011, Iran captured a U.S. Sentinel Spy drone while militant and terrorist groups such as ISIS have scooped them up to bolster their military as well. As drones continue to become an integral part of future warfare, nations need to implement anti-drone technologies. Israel, for example, has made great strides towards implementing UAV defence technology in the form of the ‘Drone Dome’ that can detect UAVs and intercept them using lasers. UAV technology will continue to evolve and grow in the time to come, influencing various sections of society, for both good and bad. In the end, the onus is on the citizens of the world and their respective nations to utilize it with responsibility, for the benefit of the global community in the years to come.

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