Aerial drone applications — Civilian use of UAVs

Drones (also known as UAVs – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are unmanned flying machines that also have a degree of autonomy. The configurations and designs of a drone can be varied, as can their applications.

Although a drone can be of any size, from a few centimeters to several tens of meters, most designers have chosen to keep sizes small (from a few centimeters up to just over a meter) offering great agility in flight, better energy efficiency, while keeping costs low. These vehicles are called minidrones or mini-UAVs.

Although drones are often used by the military, other members of civil society, such as researchers, companies, students and even humanitarian associations, have designed civilian applications for minidrones that can improve the lives of many, either with better products and services, or by directly saving human lives.

Note: readers will find a glossary of important terms and expressions at the end of the article.