The Drone Age: A Primer for Individuals and the Enterprise

By David Preznuk

The Drone Age – A Primer for Individuals and the Enterprise is an insightful and comprehensive introduction to the drone industry for individuals, entrepreneurs, and enterprises looking to integrate drone technology, understand the current state of the industry, and get a sneak-peek into the future of the industry. Packed full of drone-technology information, industry insight, and exclusive insider information, this book is a necessary first step for ANYONE looking to enter the drone industry!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9780988454279

Book preview

Acknowledgments

I have come a long way in my life and I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the special people in my life that helped make this book a reality. First I would like to thank my parents, Paul & Eva for instilling in me a moral and ethical compass that allows me to persevere when fear, uncertainty and doubt are ever present. This book would never have gotten in front of you without the passion and unwavering belief in me as an author that has been bestowed upon me by the team at Milton Chadwick and Waters Publishing, led by the man himself, John Everett Button. Without his years of encouragement, this never would have happened. Next, I have to thank the love of my life, Bonnie. She has been a pillar of support and love through this entire process. She has helped me through the many sleepless nights, contributed to the many revisions and continues to believe in me. Finally, none of this would be worthwhile without the constant love and inspiration from my son, Jack. He is a beacon of joy and a constant reminder of the wonder and awe of life. Thank you all!

About the Author

An international drone & UAS industry expert, author, and speaker, David Preznuk is the founder of Aerial Strategies, which specializes in helping organizations safely adopt, integrate, and use drones. David Preznuk is truly a visionary in the UAS industry and has been at the forefront of the migration of these platforms to the commercial and public sectors. He is extremely knowledgeable about the range of platform types and their capabilities and limitations, as well as system-related considerations – all based on first-hand operational experience.  He is also well versed in the regulatory environment and market opportunities, including a broad spectrum of applications he regularly advises clients on. He has held a private pilot license for more than 25 years and has been formally recognized by the FAA for his expertise.  David currently lives in the Washington D.C. area and can be contacted on his website at www.davidpreznuk.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Preface

Introduction

Part I: THE BASICS

Chapter One: A Brief History of UAS Evolution

What is a Drone?

How did they come to be?

Commercialization begins

Chapter Two: Types of Drone Platforms

UAS Components

Airframes

Comparative Analysis Framework (CAF)

Chapter Three: Other Components of a Drone

Propulsion / Power

Sensor / Payload

Communications

Control Systems

Post-Processing

Part II: UAS INDUSTRY MATTERS

Chapter Four: Technology Mosaic

Brave New World

Convergence of Technologies

Technology vs. Functionality Obsolescence

Chapter Five: Regulatory Environment

US Regulations

FAA Categories

Exemption & COA Process

US Airspace

Chapter Six: Market Conditions

Global

Other Regulatory Environments vs. US

Growth

Drone / UAS / UAV Providers

Career Opportunities

Chapter Seven:  Applications

How Drones are Used

First Responders

Deepwater Horizon from the View of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)

Agriculture

Inspections

Part III: INTEGRATING UAS TECHNOLOGIES INTO YOUR BUSINESS

Chapter Eight: Business Adoption & Integration

Aerial Platform (UAS / Drone) Enterprise Integration

Insource

Outsource

Governance

Chapter Nine: Risks & Liabilities

Part IV: THE FUTURE OF THE UAS REVOLUTION

Chapter Ten: What’s Next, Where do We Go from Here -Future State

PREFACE

I have been fascinated with the skies and space for as long as I can remember.  I grew up during the great space race and remember sitting in front of the television-watching rocket launches and moon missions. When the space shuttle came to be, I remember racing home from school to watch live broadcasts of missions. I also remember with pride the final mission when the space shuttle flew around Washington DC atop a 747 on its way to the Smithsonian, where it is now on display for the world to enjoy.

I always wanted to fly, and I obtained my private pilot’s license when I was in my early twenties. Even today when I go flying I have the same feeling of freedom and joy when at the controls. The sense of freedom and confidence that comes when making a good landing is something I will always appreciate.

My professional career was in technology, information technology (IT), and my personal interests were always outdoors, in nature. Whether it was hiking, biking, skiing, mountain climbing, I just wanted to be outside doing something. One day I was reading about commercial drones, and as I read I became enthralled and excited about the convergence of technologies and how they were being fashioned together to create small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). I had played with R/C planes in the past, but always crashed them for one reason or another. These new UAVs were different, very different. The more I read the more I knew I had to get into this industry. I abandoned my professional career and dove headfirst into the deep end of this new industry and created Aerial Strategies LLC – a commercial drone company focused on providing services to commercial and industrial customers. The first generation UAVs (I prefer to call them platforms since they can carry an assortment of sensors and payloads) were amazing at the time, but when compared to present day UAVs I realized how fast things are changing in this industry.

The industry then and even today is full of hype. Finding useful information was difficult. The Drone Age is the book I wish was available when I got into the industry. Whether you are looking to get into the industry yourself, have deep curiosity about the industry, or are grappling with integrating UAV’s or their content into your enterprise, this book will provide a wealth of information to help guide you through what they are, what they can do, and what you need to know about the regulations regarding their use. This is truly a primer that will give you a great foundation to inform yourself when you endeavor to use them.

INTRODUCTION

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones come in many shapes and sizes. They are used by small children for fun, and by industries for commercial purposes, and by countries to defend and protect national interests. The Drone Age – A Primer for Individuals and the Enterprise is intended to inform and provide a broad and comprehensive look at how the commercial UAS industry is evolving and how it is poised to impact our daily lives. Globally, the commercial drone industry is growing rapidly, and governments are under great pressure to establish policies and regulations that allow a commercial UAS to occupy airspace that is already congested.

The Drone Age will take the reader through the history of drones and touch on how they evolved over time. We will then look at the five types of drones to show some of their many uses and applications in the commercial and industrial sectors. Before using any UAS, it is important to understand the regulatory environment; we will look at the current regulations in the U.S. and discuss how the government classifies their use. Then we will take a deeper look at how these amazing little machines are being used today for commercial purposes and how they are benefiting several