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MIT students recently unveiled software that enables any user to design and virtually test their own drones, according to Wired.
Other companies are offering similar drone-building tools, strengthening the foundation for a thriving consumer drone ecosystem.
- NXP Semiconductors offers a reference design for consumer drones. This is a technical blueprint that drone makers can build from.
- Intel offers the Aero platform for drones. It includes both a microprocessor and sensors that all types of drone builders can outfit their products with.
These building blocks have contributed to a rising number of drone registrations and sightings. About 777,000 people are registered to operate drones in the US, according to March 2017 data from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). Meanwhile, complaints about drones in the UK tripled in 2016 alone, and drone sales are on the rise in China.
Lower prices will lead to further growth in consumer drone ownership. Though consumer drones typically retail for hundreds or thousands of dollars, more affordable drones — some costing under $100— are increasingly coming to market. As prices decline further, more consumers will purchase these devices; BI Intelligence forecasts that 29 million consumer drones will ship in 2021.
As a result of higher drone ownership, the governments and regulators will be confronted with a number of issues:
- Consumers’ privacy. Camera drones flown at low altitudes can often take pictures of people in intimate settings, such as their homes or backyards, leading to privacy concerns. This prompted a ban in Newton, Massachusetts, of drones flying at an altitude below 400 feet.
- Interference with other aircraft. Pilots are increasingly spotting drones at airports, according to a February 2017 FAA report. These drones could pose a danger to other aircraft and lives.
- Use in illegal activity. Drones can carry illegal parcels, often out of the line of sight of law enforcement authorities. Last July, a man was arrested in the UK for using a drone to deliver parcels to prisoners, for example.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is disrupting businesses, governments, and consumers and transforming how they interact with the world. Companies are going to spend almost $5 trillion on the IoT in the next five years — and the proliferation of connected devices and massive increase in data has started an analytical revolution.
To gain insight into this emerging trend, BI Intelligence conducted an exclusive Global IoT Executive Survey on the impact of the IoT on companies around the world. The study included over 500 respondents from a wide array of industries, including manufacturing, technology, and finance, with significant numbers of C-suite and director-level respondents.
Peter Newman, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has conducted an exclusive study with in-depth research into the field and created a detailed report on the IoT that describes the components that make up IoT ecosystem. We size the IoT market in terms of device installations and investment through 2021. And we examine the importance of IoT providers, the challenges they face, and what they do with the data they collect. Finally, we take a look at the opportunities, challenges, and barriers related to mass adoption of IoT devices among consumers, governments, and enterprises.
Here are some key takeaways from the report:
- We project that there will be a total of 22.5 billion IoT devices in 2021, up from 6.6 billion in 2016.
- We forecast there will be $4.8 trillion in aggregate IoT investment between 2016 and 2021.
- It highlights the opinions and experiences of IoT decision-makers on topics that include: drivers for adoption; major challenges and pain points; stages of adoption, deployment, and maturity of IoT implementations; investment in and utilization of devices, platforms, and services; the decision-making process; and forward- looking plans.
In full, the report:
- Provides a primer on the basics of the IoT ecosystem
- Offers forecasts for the IoT moving forward and highlights areas of interest in the coming years
- Looks at who is and is not adopting the IoT, and why
- Highlights drivers and challenges facing companies implementing IoT solutions
To get your copy of this invaluable guide to the IoT, choose one of these options:
- Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
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The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the IoT.