Drone Use Will Skyrocket By 2021, Government Says

Jonathan Vanian for Fortune:  The federal government doesn’t think people will lose interest in drones anytime soon.

The number of hobbyist-owned drones will reach 3.6 million by 2021, more than triple the 1.1 million last year, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a report last week.

The FAA's new predictions signal the general public's increased interest in drones despite being a relatively new technology with only a handful of big vendors selling the flying robots.

In January, the FAA said that people had registered over 670,000 drones in 2016. The latest numbers, therefore, appear to be based on other sources and likely include unregistered drones. The FAA debuted a national drone registration system at the end of 2015.

In addition to data about hobbyist-owned drones, the FAA said that it expects roughly 442,000 drones to be used by businesses by 2021 for tasks like taking pictures of farmland or inspecting cell phone towers. That's nearly ten times as many drones than the 42,000 the FAA said businesses used in 2016.  Full Article:  

Featured Product

IP Seals for Robots

IP Seals for Robots

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies' IPRS (Ingress Protection Seals for Robots) provides reliable protection for robotic systems operating in harsh environments. Designed to prevent dust, moisture, chemicals, and wear from compromising performance, IPRS extends service life and reduces maintenance. The adaptive Z-shaped geometry ensures sealing integrity under continuous motion, making it ideal for high-speed automation and outdoor applications. Manufactured with high-performance elastomers such as Fluoroprene XP and EPDM, IPRS offers exceptional resistance to lubricants, cleaning agents, and extreme temperatures. This makes it the perfect solution for six-axis robots, SCARA robots, AMRs, AGVs, and cobots. With its low-friction design and durable materials, IPRS enhances energy efficiency and operational reliability in industrial and autonomous robotics. Learn more about our IPRS Seals