Study Suggests Commercial Drones Realize ROI in One Year or Less

A 2018 study by Skyward technologies, showcases a dazzling future for the commercial drone industry. It’s one rife with global growth and opportunity across multiple industries.

According to the studies findings, one in 10 companies with revenues of $50 million or more use drones today. Even more impressive is that 92% of those companies experienced a positive ROI on their drone investment in just one year — and in some cases less.

Adoption rates vary from industry to industry, with construction and engineering leading the pack, followed by government applications.

“In the last two years since the FAA passed Part 107, we’ve seen drone use accelerate across small businesses and multinational firms, and watched our customers build drone programs into sophisticated operations that increase efficiency, worker safety, and access to data,” said Mariah Scott, President, Skyward

Key Findings

1. About half of surveyed respondents reported that their company’s bottom line would suffer if their company did not use drones.

2. A majority of respondents realized a positive ROI on their investment in one year or less.

3. Drone adoption is highest in the construction and engineering industry, followed by government.

4. Four in five companies expect their drone flights to increase year over year.

5. Three in four expect to increase spending on their drone program over the next 12 months

To learn more visit www.appliedaeronautics.com

10 Drone Training Colleges in the USA

The impact UAV’s will have on both commercial and government operations in the coming years is sure to be significant. A recent study conducted by AUVSI concluded that the drone industry alone will create more than 100,000 new jobs by 2025, and have an economic impact of $82 billion. Universities across America are preparing their students for rewarding careers in this new industry by offering degree programs in both piloting and engineering.

Below is list of the colleges leading the drone training charge.

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Spartan College

Spartan’s Aviation Electronics Technology program (AET), is one of the first to specialize in UAVs, taking an electronics approach to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Graduates of the AET program are qualified to work in a variety of positions and industries ranging from Aerospace, Communications, Simulator Development, Robotics, UAV and beyond. The program is certified by the National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies (NCATT). Graduates are also prepared for Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) and Certified Electronics Technician (CET) certificates and licenses.

More Information: https://www.spartan.edu/

Embry Riddle

Embry-Riddle’s Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science degree equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills to seek employment in a wide variety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) related fields, including UAS pilots, sensor operators and ground technicians. Students enrolled in the program explore coursework in aeronautical science, unmanned aircraft systems, computer science, robotics, and engineering, providing graduates a wide breadth of knowledge to become industry leaders. The program also highlights issues such as the integration of unmanned aircraft into existing infrastructure and requires students to make reasonable predictions of how the current system will accommodate the addition of cutting-edge technologies.Additionally, Embry-Riddle has paired with local organizations to establish land use for academic flight operations. Students, under faculty guidance, have the opportunity to operate a host of unmanned platforms in actual environments, which further broadens capabilities and exposure to industry standards. 

More Info: https://erau.edu/degrees/bachelor/unmanned-aircraft-systems-science/

Oklahoma State University

The UAS option at Oklahoma State, available for both the degrees of MS and PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, provides students with a recognized emphasis in graduate level work in the area of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. It provides students with hands-on analysis, design, construction and flight testing of UAS platforms. Flight testing and operations to be conducted at OSU UAS airfields in Stillwater and at Ft. Sill, Okla.

More Information: https://unmanned.okstate.edu

Indiana State University

The University offers a bachelor of science (B.S.) in unmanned systems.This degree program prepares students for entry and advancement within the aerial, land, and water vehicles/robotics workforce of the future. The program is one of the first of its kind in Indiana and one of only a few in the United States.Coursework includes a 21-credit unmanned systems core, a 28-credit aviation core, and the University's Foundational Studies Program, which provides the knowledge students need in critical thinking, leadership, and interpersonal and communication skills. Students are encouraged to purse a minor field of study, especially in areas where unmanned systems will play an important role. Suggested minors include: aviation technology, criminology and criminal justice, geographic information science, computer engineering technology, computer science, communication, and business administration. Students also may choose to obtain a double major.

More Information: https://www.indstate.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/unmanned-systems

Kansas State University

As the unmanned aircraft systems, more commonly known as drones, industry continues to break new ground, Kansas State Polytechnic is at the forefront of this revolution. They understand the importance of providing students with research opportunities, cutting edge technology and equipment, and an exclusive education. That’s why they built one of the largest enclosed UAS flight facilities in the nation and were awarded the country’s first approval to provide commercial flight training. In their UAS program, students log flight hours by piloting a diverse fleet of unmanned aircraft through our structured multirotor and fixed-wing training courses. After completion, students act as instructors in entry-level flight classes.

More Information: https://polytechnic.k-state.edu/academics/degree-options/uasflight/

University of North Dakota

With 50 years of experience in Aviation education, training, and research, UND was the  first to offer a UAS degree in 2009, and their program has led the way ever since. You'll gain expertise to work in a crew environment as a Pilot operator, sensor operator, or other key team member of unmanned aircraft systems. You'll also gain a clear understanding of National Airspace System safety and operations procedures. UND offers a comprehensive UAS Aviation degree including relative topics such as: human factors, crew resource management, autonomous systems, counter UAS applications, experience in small, medium and large UAS, safety management, and aircraft systems. Their Grand Forks campus has been called "the Silicon Valley of unmanned aircraft systems" by the New York Times. UND students are given the opportunity to interact with small and large UAS companies such as Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, and Customs Border Protection. Flights are conducted regularly where UND flight students are jointly flying next to Unmanned Aircraft in the National Airspace System.

More Information: https://und.edu/programs/unmanned-aircraft-system-operations-bs-aero/

Liberty University

Through the Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics: Unmanned Aerial Systems at Liberty University, you’ll become a professional unmanned aerial system operator by earning a Private Pilot certificate and an Instrument Flight rating. Learn to operate small unmanned aerial vehicles safely and ethically. With this degree program, you may also have the opportunity to earn a full industry certification on the medium-sized Aerosonde vehicle (U.S. citizens only). You may also have the opportunity to become a UAS instructor. This exciting opportunity to fly and become fully certified on the Aerosonde is available to you through a partnership with a UAS industry leader. 

More Information: http://www.liberty.edu/academics/aeronautics/index.cfm?PID=38713

LeTourneau University

With a sixty year legacy of providing exceptional flight and maintenance training, LeTourneau University is well-equipped to train aviation professionals to meet the needs of this high-growth industry. At LETU, their goal is for their Unmanned Aircraft Systems graduates to become effective and exemplary aviation professionals who will become leaders in this new and rapidly expanding industry. Classes include: Introduction to Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operations, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Flight Control Systems, Aviation Safety Factors.

More Information: https://letu.edu/academics/aviation/remotely-piloted-aircraft-systems-pilot-concentration.html

Troy University

Troy University became the first university in Alabama to offer a program in unmanned aerial systems when the new minor launched in the fall of 2014.  The minor is part of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Resource Management and Technology and falls under the auspices of the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Chemistry and Physics.

More Information: http://spectrum.troy.edu/uas/index.html

Lewis University

Lewis is one of the only schools in the nation that offers direct experience and the degree you need to launch your career in this high-paying and dynamic field. By earning a Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Aircraft Systems from Lewis University, you will be prepared for the plethora of opportunities available in the growing field upon graduation. At Lewis you will learn how to design, develop and operate individually-tailored UAS to meet objectives through an interdisciplinary curriculum in which you will:

• Understand and apply the fundamental skills of UAS operation to project design

• Successfully apply Crew Resource Management (CRM) concepts in a collaborative UAS team environment

• Apply foundational computer science and engineering skills in developing UAS algorithms

• Apply foundational aviation maintenance, electrical and avionics skills to UAS devices

• Discuss ethical issues of UAS

More Information: https://www.lewisu.edu/academics/unmanned-aircraft-systems/index.htm

5 Ways Drones Will Revolutionize Agriculture

The Albatross UAV

In recent years, farms of all sizes have begun embracing more advanced strategies for streamlining their processes to increase output. Drone technology is a central figure of this technological revolution. The following are five ways that drones like the Albatross UAV can be used throughout the crop cycle:

1. Soil and field analysis: Drone’s can play a vital role in the daily life of the farm right from the onset of the crop cycle. When equipped with high-quality onboard sensors, they can produce precise 3-D maps of the farm. These maps can then be used to conduct early soil analysis as well as aid in the planning of seed planting patterns. Once crops are planted the data derived from drone imagery can be used for irrigation and nitrogen-level management.

2. Crop Monitoring: One of the biggest challenges that farms face is the sheer size of their vast properties. The challenges posed by this footprint is amplified by the increase in unpredictable weather conditions that can subsequently drive up maintenance costs and stall productivity. Drones allow for real-time monitoring that is far more accurate and cost-effective than previously used methods like satellite imagery. Platforms like the Albatross UAV, offer users custom tailored drone packages designed to monitor nutrients, moisture levels, and overall crop health.

 3. Crop spraying: Distance measuring equipment allows a drone to adjust it’s altitude as topography and geography change, thus avoiding collisions. This same onboard technology can be used to assist with the task of spraying crops. Drones can scan the ground and in real time modulate distance from the field to spray the correct amount of liquid. The result is increased efficiency as well as a reduction in the number of chemicals penetrating the groundwater. Experts believe that aerial spraying will allow this task to be completed five times faster than if done with traditional machinery.

4. Irrigation: Drones equipped with hyperspectral, multispectral, or thermal sensors can identify areas that require changes in irrigation. Once crops have started growing, these sensors can calculate their vegetation index, an indicator of health, by measuring the crop’s heat signature. 

5. Health assessment: By scanning crops with visible and Infrared (IR) light, drones can identify which plants may be infected by bacteria or fungus, helping to prevent disease from spreading to other crops. With Multispectral images, you can detect diseases and/or sickness before its even possible to identify it with a human eye, potentially amounting to substantial savings.

For more information on commercial drones, please visit www.appliedaeronautics.com.

Advantages of Fixed Wing UAV vs. Rotary Wing

The Albatross UAV from Applied Aeronautics

UAV aircraft can be distilled into two categories, fixed wing and, rotary wing. Today we’ll be addressing fixed-wing platforms, which we believe offer significant advantages in most commercial applications.

1. Increased Operational Efficiency: Fixed-wing platforms are more operationally efficient than quadcopters. This translates into longer flight times, extended range and consequently more ground covered per mission. Where the average quadcopter can get around 15-25 minutes of flight time, fixed wing systems gets anywhere from 1-5 hrs, making them better suited to missions with extensive data collection needs as well as long-range ISR, search and rescue support and emergency management. 

2. Better Aerodynamic Performance: Fixed wing systems also offer better aerodynamic performance and are only marginally influenced by environmental conditions so they can accomplish missions in high winds making them well suited for use in a range of environments. 

3. Greater Payload Versatility: Fixed-wing platforms are capable of carrying far greater payloads for longer distances than quadcopters. This allows the end user to carry more and bigger sensors as well as twin sensor configurations and vital supplies for things like search and rescue missions, humanitarian projects. etc.

For more information on long-range fixed wing platforms, check out the Albatross UAV at AppliedAeronautics.com