Drone technology

We already know that drones can do a lot of things quickly and precisely. They provide reconnaissance and monitoring for fire departments, civil protection and airports, function as medical couriers and can take special measurements from the air (e.g. spectral analysis). They take completely automated inventories, inspect damage to buildings and help optimise internal transport chains.

This is just the beginning. There are numerous new possibilities, especially for large-scale monitoring. For example, environmental hazards can be detected with special cameras, precise situation images can be created for traffic or event and disaster control, or operational protection can be optimised. Inaccessible or dangerous regions are also much easier to reach with unmanned drones.

Experts predict that the economic significance of drones is set to expand. In Europe alone, revenue from commercial drones is set to increase by more than 40 percent per year until 2025. This does mean, however, that drones need to fly partially autonomously and in greater numbers.

which would require efficient air traffic management to make the lower airspace more useful without compromising safety below. A lot more people are starting to use drones, which must not get in the way of each other or helicopters. Intelligent technological control centre solutions and new laws are necessary to regulate this. These solutions are currently being tested in Hamburg.