One of the new burgeoning technology segments within the security industry over the past several years has been that of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more commonly referred to as drones, for surveillance and other applications. But while legal concerns and other issues have somewhat slowed their adoption, sales of safety and security drones are expected to skyrocket over the next several years, according to a new report from The Freedonia Group.
While sales of safety and security drones in the U.S. totaled $90 million in 2016, the market research firm projects sales to be more than double that by 2019, reaching an estimated $250 million. In addition, The Freedonia Group predicts that between 2019 and 2022, sales of these devices will grow fourfold and nearly sevenfold in the six-year period between 2022 and 2028.
Among the factors that expected to drive this growth, according to research firm, include:
- Rapidly spreading awareness of the capabilities and benefits of commercial drones, including the option to integrate drones into existing security systems and services to provide actionable intelligence;
- Declining equipment costs as economies of scale continue to allow manufacturers to produce equipment more efficiently and as broader demand for sensors and specialized equipment eases current supply shortages, making drones a more affordable option for potential end-users;
- Ongoing development into more specialized solutions in all segments of the industry, which will help address customers’ key needs and provide additional applications for use;
- Expanding capabilities of drone systems to quickly and efficiently gather crucial data for safety and security applications;
- Evolving industry regulations that will help remove gray areas in the legality of operation and encourage wider adoption among potential end-users who may otherwise hesitate due to liability concerns;
- Desire among end-users to reduce labor costs and rely on more highly automated, often more accurate systems;
- And, myriad ways to leverage drone technology to complement existing electronic security systems, such as tethering drones to safety and security unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs – often referred to as robots, which are similar to drones but fall outside of the scope of this study.).
Click here for more information about the report.
