May 15, 2015
The Civil Drone: Non-Kinetic Applications of Drone Technology
Today, the word “drone” commonly provokes energetic debates – often stemming from the technology’s controversial use in military operations. Some see drones as precision tools that reduce civilian casualties while eliminating terrorist threats; others see them as extralegal – or even illegal – implements of war. But while “drone strikes” and the broader military applications of drone technology have long-dominated headlines, drones offer a growing number of promising commercial and humanitarian applications that are frequently overlooked in the public discourse.
Indeed, the technological sophistication of hobbyist and commercial drones has markedly improved in recent years, enabling a range of capabilities and applications that were formerly the monopoly of major military powers. Commercially available drones can now carry thermal imaging and night-vision surveillance equipment, capture and transmit high-definition images and video, and persist for modest periods of time at growing distances. These capabilities have steadily increased the use of drones outside of a military context.
Read the full article on the Leading Edge blog.
More from CNAS
-
Podcast
Defense / Indo-Pacific Security
Hellscape Taiwan: Drones, Deterrence, and the Future of Asymmetric DefenseStacie Pettyjohn joined the Irregular Warfare Podcast to examine how Taiwan could deter—or potentially defeat—a Chinese invasion by transforming the Taiwan Strait into an “unm...
By Stacie Pettyjohn
-
Cubans Brace for U.S. "Invasion" as Tensions Rise
Video
Becca Wasser, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joined CNN’s Good Morning with Audie Cornish to discuss escalating tensions between the U.S. and...
By Becca Wasser
-
I Was the Russian Commander in a War Game. This Is How I Defeated NATO.
Commentary
Deterrence depends not only on military capabilities—which are lacking—but also on what the enemy believes about your resolve....
By Franz-Stefan Gady
-
From Innovation Ecosystem to Industrial Base
Commentary
Introduction America’s defense technology boom is real. Venture-backed firms building in artificial intelligence (AI), autonomy, space, and advanced manufacturing are winning ...
By Brian Katz
