Drone Conveyed Measurement and Sensing

Introduction 

In the last decade, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), which are commonly referred to as drones, has been extensive considering that their application capabilities are increasing as part of technological advancements. The adoption of drones has been effective in scientific research, as well as other projects that require data measurement and sensing attributed to the capability of these drones to deliver on such data. The application of drones can be seen in areas and industries such as agriculture and aviation both of which require large amounts of data that can be collected while using drones. The outcome of this is that it seeks to highlight the importance of understanding how drones can be used in conveying measurement and sensing with the focus being towards projecting accuracy in the data collected in different areas of study and research. 

The focus of this report is to embark on an in-depth analysis of the extensive use of drone technology with the emphasis being towards understanding how drones can help in conveying measurements and sensing. The report will seek to evaluate how the adoption of drones in different industries has been of great value in ensuring that indeed researchers can focus on measurement and sensing. On the other hand, the report will seek to highlight some of the future applications of drone technology in measurement and sensing with the focus being towards examining how these applications may help towards advancing this particular technology. Examining how drones are used in conveying measurements, as well as sensing, is essential as it helps towards evaluating how drone technology can be applied within an industry perspective as part of promoting technological advancements. 

Background 

The following is a background analysis of drone technology focusing on the technological development of drones, as well as reflecting on some of the fields of the application associated with this technology. 

Development and Extensive Use of the Drone Technology 

The development of drone technology can be linked back to the mid-19 th century during which time the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) was developed for purposes of naval navigation. However, technological advancements within the last decade have played a key role towards advancing this particular technology with the focus being towards improving on its uses in different industries and sectors. It is essential to take note of the fact that the technological advancements have been of great value towards promoting a shift in focus towards remote-controlled airplanes, which would operate as drones with the focus being towards advancing their extensive usability. 

The use of drones has been notably significant considering that the developers of this particular technology tend to reflect more on using the technology in finding a solution to some of the logistical challenges experiences. An example can be seen from the fact that drones are currently being used to make deliveries in homes and offices, which projects convenience for the persons ordering specific items. From an overall perspective, it can be argued that indeed the drone technology is working towards creating a significant shift regarding expectations regarding changing the way people view technology. However, this technology has a number of challenges and issues that influence the outcome of major processed involving the use of drones. In this case, the developers capitalize on the use of advanced technologies and approaches to eliminated and minimize the issues. 

Fields of Application 

One of the critical fields of application for the drone technology has been in the military considering that drones have been used as a replacement of human-crewed aircraft with the aim of minimizing the loss of lives during wars. Some of the developed countries around the world including the United States and Russia have adopted usage of drones as a crucial part of their military activities, which acts as a clear indication of the effectiveness of this technology in this field. Another critical area of application has been on scientific research considering that drones tend to have the capability of conveying data remotely, which, in turn, paves the way for a shift in the data collection and acquisition approaches. Drones tend to have different components that researchers can use for purposes of data collection or sensing with the focus being towards building on accuracy and validity (Shrestha, Saxena, Truong, and Asokan, 2014). 

Within the past decade, the numbers of studies that have adopted usage of the drone technology have increased significantly with more and more researchers embracing this as one of the critical technologies that shift their abilities to collect data and measurements. The components associated with drones tend to have essential outcomes of creating that proactive avenue from which to ensure that indeed drones improve on their capacities to collect and transmit data remotely. On the other hand, the drone technology has also been applied in the logistics industry considering that drones tend to play a vital role in the movement of goods from one location to another. In this industry, stakeholders have pointed out the fact that drone technology has been a revolutionary technology in advancing the approaches taken as part of the industry expectations. 

Regulation of Drones 

In a majority of the countries around the world, usage of drones has been regulated with the focus being towards reducing the risks that drones pose from an aviation perspective. One of the critical issues to note is that the majority of the drone users around the world do not have the necessary licenses allowing them to fly some of these drones. Thus, this creates a significant security risk considering that these drones tend to fly within multiple flight paths, which creates a considerable risk regarding the collision. The regulations put in place to regulate usage of drones tend to focus more on ensuring that the users of these drones understand the impacts that these drones may have on the security, as well as, seek to ensure that the users work towards creating a safe platform for those impacted by the technology. 

In scientific research, the adoption of the drone technology can be viewed from the perspective of the regulations with the focus being towards ensuring that their approach used in conveying measurements, or sensing remain effective, accurate, and valid. One of the critical challenges that researchers ought to expect is that there would be a significant shift in the data collection approaches when using drones. The shift arises from the fact that some of these drones lack the essential components to operate within given environments. Consequently, this may create a situation where the data collected as part of given research or study may not be as accurate or valid as may be expected. Regulation would be of great value towards ensuring that the researchers involved in the usage of drones to convey measurements or sensing understand how the drones operate and function. 

Use of Drones in Conveying Data and Measurements 

According to Shrestha, Saxena, Truong, and Asokan (2014) the use of drones for purposes of conveying data and measurements has been extensive considering that people tend to view this technology as having essential outcomes regarding promoting validity and accuracy in the data and measurements conveyed. Since the 1970s, the National Space Agency (NASA), which is a United States government agency involved in in-depth space research, has adopted the usage of drones to help in conveying data and measurements. The drones used by this agency tend to have highly technical components and sensors that help in conveying data in a much more effective manner while ensuring that indeed researchers can get a clear picture or what to expect from the data. That prompted development of cheaper drones that would be able to convey smaller amounts of data in a wide array of research areas. 

Most of the drones used in conveying data and measurements tend to use an onboard navigation system, the Global Positioning System (GPS), to help in miniaturization of autopilots, thus, paving the way for a useful platform from which to convey necessary data. The use of these drones has been effective in research studies that involve having to reach areas where human beings cannot venture or areas with limited accessibility. Shrestha, Saxena, Truong, and Asokan (2014) argue that some of the critical areas where drones have been a useful tool for conveying measurements include studies that focus on volcano and wildlife biology. The drones allow the researchers to get necessary data without having to risk their lives in the collecting of such information or data for purposes of research. 

The use of drone technology for research has become indispensable and revolutionary in ensuring that individuals can effectively undertake their respective duties using the drones. In other words, this means that researchers find themselves in an adequate position allowing them to use drones as multiple approaches to the research process. Researchers find themselves in a position where their usage of drones tends to create a somewhat useful outcome in ensuring that indeed they can meet their respective expectations in research. Although the usage of drones is rather expensive as part of conveying data and measures, one of the critical aspects to consider is that they tend to remain effective in ensuring that the data presented is accurate and sufficient to help in meeting the expected standards of research. 

The adoption of drones can also be viewed from the perspective that they are indeed changing the research landscape considering that they are changing the way people engage or embark on research studies. That can be seen from the fact that majority of researchers intending to participate in large-scale research projects prefer usage of drones for purposes of conveying data and measurements. That means that indeed researchers are finding themselves in a position where they are expected to balance between utilization of drones, which are much more likely to present accurate data or usage of regular research methods. The usage of drones can also be viewed from the perspective that they tend to reduce the time take to collect and analyze a given set of data for purposes of research. 

However, it is essential for researchers intending to use drones for purposes of studies and researchers to understand some of the technical and legal hurdles that they ought to expect as part of their engagements. From a technical perspective, drones tend to have a somewhat technical technological system, which means that the majority of the people find it hard to engage in drone flying. Thus, this creates a situation where one may experience a significant challenge in trying to use drones for purposes of conveying data or measurements, which is a crucial aspect of consideration during research. Alternatively, the legal constraints associated with drones tend to limit the flying of drones within specific areas, which is an essential aspect of consideration for researchers intending to use this technology for purposes of research. 

Remote Sensing as a Part of Drone Technology 

Remote sensing is a technological advancement that helps in obtaining in-depth knowledge and understanding of a given element in any given field. The use of drone technology has enhanced in the remote sensing process using different features installed in the drones to improve the process efficiently. The characteristics and various components of the drones play an integral role in enhancing effectiveness in remote sensing, which is part of drone technology. Undertaking the remote sensing process may include activities such as large-scale mapping, real-time assessment, and monitoring of activities that require the acquisition of detailed information. According to Shrestha, Saxena, Truong, and Asokan (2014) the space application center focuses on proper designing of drone to help in the accomplishment of the remote sensing objective through the installation of relevant applications and features makes the sensing as part of drone technology. Additionally, drone technology comprises of various size platforms that helps in promoting effectiveness in the remote sensing processes. 

The primary element of consideration that helps in enhancing remote sensing as part of drone technology entails the physical design of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The drone designed for remote sensing are assembled with physical components that support different elements of sense. The first significant drone design that helps in enhancing the remote sensing operations entails the hex copter, which can carry different load sizes of sensors. The drone is fitted with components such as the multispectral, optical, and the LIDAR, which helps in enhancing the remote sensing for various elements. The hex copter has an integrated optical sensor that helps in capturing high definition photos and videos by maintaining high resolution, which is an aspect that helps in enhancing the quality of the information obtained during exercise. Additionally, the drones are fitted with the ready-to-fly quadcopter, which is an aspect that provides the ability to fly the drone to a different level for proper results in the sensing process. 

Considering the sensitive nature of the remote sensing process, the designs and components of the drones differ to capitalize on enhancing the level of quality during the entire process. The technological advancements in the drone industry play an integral role in ensuring that accuracy levels are maintained in remote sensing based on the nature of the environment that requires exploration using the drones. The drone industry has capitalized on the micro and nano Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that engages in remote sensing without the interferences of an environment, with the objective of obtaining the reliable and relevant information. A significant development in the industry that focused on enhancing the remote sensing capabilities involved the use of the invention of the Vertical Take-Off & Landing (VTOL) drones. The VTOL drones are aircrafts designs that do not require any form of taking off or landing run when undertaking activities involving the remote sensing. The drone helps in engaging in remote sensing in different terrains effectively without the interference of the quality of information obtained during the process. 

The inventions in the drone industry capitalize on promoting the effectiveness and efficiency of the drones while engaging in the process of remote sensing. The industry focuses on the consideration of five critical elements that allows the drones to undertake the remote sensing activities efficiently. The elements of consideration include the payload capacity of the drone, which helps in determining the number of sensors installed in each drone, flight endurance, fly options, fly height, and fly range. The mentioned features provide the drones with different capabilities to undertake the remote sensing activities efficiently. Additionally, the advancements in the mentioned features help in overcoming critical challenges associated with the process of remote sensing. 

Operational Challenges and Issues 

The adoption of the drone technology has come with its share of challenges and issues, which are essential to understanding in a bid to examining how this technology is expected to create a shift regarding expected outcomes. The first significant challenge to take note of is that drones tend to have a substantial limitation when dealing with the measurement capacities and sense considering that they are restricted within a given radius. One critical aspect to note is that drones tend to operate within a given confine outside which one would not be able to have control over their functionality. The aspect of confinement as a clear reflection of the fact that this technology tends to bring about a significant challenge regarding the area in which researchers would be able to collect data from, as the areas tend to be somewhat limited. Ultimately, this limits the scope of measurements and readings collected, which may have significant impacts on the application capacities of the data. 

The second major limitation associated usage of drones for purposes of conveying measurements and sensing is that they tend to create a major constraint regarding processing large volumes of data. Drones tend to have major limitations in the amount of data that they convey or the readings that they would be able to deliver within a given period. In that view, this means that researchers find themselves in a situation where they are limited regarding the amount of data that they would be able to use as part of their studies in a bid to engaging in an effective approach for data collection. 

Thirdly, the adoption of drones for purposes of conveying measurements and sensing is costly attributed to the amount of money that one is expected to spend on the acquisition of this technology. That means that the application of the drone technology for small-scale researches or studies is untenable considering that majority of the researchers find themselves in a situation where they are unable to afford such high-cost margins. Drones can only be applied in large-scale researches considering that this would be a cost-effective measure for the researchers in a bid to ensuring that they can collect as much data as possible. From that view, this can be considered as a critical challenge, as it becomes hard to determine how drones can be used in promoting reliability and validity in multiple types of research. 

Lastly, drones tend to require essential skills and knowledge considering that these are types of aircraft that must be handled efficiently. Before flying a drone, one is expected to learn how to use the flight controls considering that these are the essential components in a drone that would help in measurement and sensing as part of the expected approaches involved in data collection and sensing. That limits the scope of application for the drone technology considering that it becomes somewhat challenging for researchers involved in a wide array of studies use such technologies for purposes of measurement and sensing. In that view, it can be argued that one of the critical challenges that the majority of the researchers intend to use drone technology may encounter focuses on lack of know-how associated with this technological advancement. 

Future Applications of Drone Technology in Measurement and Sensing 

An increase in innovations within the industry has attracted more people into the use of drones to undertake different activities. The increased use of drones help in shaping the future of the drone industry considering a majority of people tend to use drones to undertake various activities that involve remote sensing and undertaking of crucial measurement that is required to provide information in different fields. According to Boudergui et al. (2011), more people will use the drones in the future to undertake intense researches in various studied. The continued technological advancement in the industry plays an essential role in enhancing the authenticity of measurements and sensing undertaken by the drones thus increasing reliability and efficiency. The technological advancements help in improving the research process by reducing the time taken to conduct any given study and increasing the safety of information obtained. 

The use of drones will be used in the future to make innovations based on the nature of technological components installed in the drones to undertake various activities in any given environment. The designing of different types of drones will allow in the exploration of new environments that would otherwise have not been explored easily. The exploration of the new environments and new features will help in increasing innovations, whereby a majority of the people engaging in different innovations will opt to use the drones. Lastly, the expansion of the drone industry will result in the manufacture of drones that are cheap and readily available for all people to use in various activities in daily lives. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), which are commonly referred to as drones, have been extensive considering that their application capabilities are increasing as part of technological advancements. The development of drone technology can be linked back to the mid-19th century during which time the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) was developed for purposes of naval navigation. Some of the developed countries around the world including the United States and Russia have adopted usage of drones as a crucial part of their military activities. The drone technology has also been applied in the logistics industry considering that drones tend to play a critical role in the movement of goods from one location to another. The use of these drones has been effective in research studies that involve having to reach areas where human beings cannot venture or areas with limited accessibility. The technological advancements in the drone industry play an integral role in ensuring that accuracy levels are maintained in remote sensing based on the nature of the environment that requires exploration using the drones. 

References 

Boudergui, K., Carrel, F., Domenech, T., Guenard, N., Poli, J. P., Ravet, A., & Woo, R. (2011, June). Development of a drone equipped with optimized sensors for nuclear and radiological risk characterization. In  Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), 2011 2nd International Conference on  (pp. 1-9). IEEE. 

Shrestha, B., Saxena, N., Truong, H. T. T., & Asokan, N. (2014, March). Drone to the rescue: Relay-resilient authentication using ambient multi-sensing. In  International Conference on Financial Cryptography and Data Security  (pp. 349-364). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.