2022 Year in Review: Drones

  • Jack Collins

Drone technology has been rapidly expanding its footprint over our lives over the last few years, and 2022 was no exception. From taking on new jobs to helping humans explore new hobbies, drones had a landmark year. Here are some of the biggest trends in the drone industry in 2022.

Explosive Drone Market Growth

When we say that the drone industry experienced huge growth in 2023, we’re not kidding. Some industry experts say that drones represent a $15 billion market share. That’s up from just $1.6 billion in 2016. To put that in perspective, that’s about the amount of money that Sam Bankman-Fried is estimated to have lost in the collapse of FTX.

Some of the biggest applications for civilian drones include mapping, surveying, photography, filming, and inspections. Generally, the best applications for drones involve jobs that are too dangerous, tedious, or simply impossible for humans to complete.

Changing Regulations

Looking forward, some experts believe that the biggest forces driving the growth of the drone industry will be how agencies like the FAA regulate drones. And 2022 brought us one of the biggest updates in drone piloting regulations to date. The FAA, which governs how pilots can control aircraft in the US, released new guidelines about drones flying beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight (BVLOS). These rules are a huge step in the world of drone aviation, and allow pilots to control drones in areas they can’t see with their eyeballs. Expect to see more rule changes like this in the future.

Learn More about Drone Tech at SDI

Are you fascinated with the exciting and expanding world of drones? At SDI, we can help you discover all the latest trends in drone technology and how it’s affecting our daily lives. If you want to learn more about how SDI can expand your drone knowledge base, check out our full program directory.

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