Pilot Projects Are Helping to Establish Safety and Reliability for Unmanned Vehicles Industry

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More industries are looking to UVs to collect visual information and carry out complex tasks as a safer, cheaper, and more reliable alternative to incumbent solutions. Although the majority of today’s UV use cases are for asset inspection, aerial imaging, and agricultural operations, improving technologies will be revolutionary for newer applications that take advantage of beyond visual line of sight and autonomous operations. According to a new report from @NavigantRSRCH, current regulatory structures limit the ability to test and deploy innovative UV services, but as UV pilot programs establish the safety and reliability of the technology, regulations will likely adapt.

“Regulation has an important role in ensuring safety and protection of the public good as these new technology solutions are trialed and rolled out commercially,” says William Drier, research associate with Navigant Research. “However, varying regulatory structures can also limit what kinds of applications can be deployed, particularly for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).”

To succeed in this market, Navigant Research recommends companies identify a true value proposition over current solutions. Developers should prioritize specialized solutions for automating tasks, and be conscious that demonstrating safety and reliability will be key to the evolution of regulation and market growth, according to the report.