The war in Ukraine has dramatically increased the use of drones in warfare, from repurposed consumer quadcopters to flying bombs to remotely piloted warplanes.
Iran’s short-range surface-to-surface Fateh-110 being test-fired in 2010.
UPI/Vahid Reza Alaei/ Iranian Defence Ministry
In a few Australian suburbs, a cup of coffee or toothpaste can now arrive via the air. But that doesn’t mean drones are going to be widespread – for now.
Drones are now an integral part of defence force capability, from intelligence gathering to unmanned theatre engagement. But what happens if our own technology is turned against us?
Stephen Rice, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Mattie Milner, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Nobody has yet figured out what the rules are for drones or what constitutes ‘good manners’ for drone operators. But there are legitimate reasons a drone might be near your home.
Mosses are sensitive to even minor changes in their living conditions, and scientists traditionally tramped through difficult terrain to collect data on them.
Drones have a positive role to play on the African continent, from delivering medicines to fighting poaching and even giving visitors to game parks a head-up on where to spot the game.