In our youthful imaginations, flying robots seemed to belong to a distant future. In 2026, they are very real – and for better or for worse, they are everywhere.

We are talking of course about drones. Also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones use a combination of sensors and communication systems that help them fly. Drones can be equipped with additional equipment to perform a variety of tasks while airborne. They can be piloted via remote control, or they can fly autonomously. Different types of drones vary greatly in their range and altitude capabilities.

It might surprise you to know that the term “drone” has been in use from the earliest days of aviation! Remotely piloted aircrafts were use for military target practice as early as the 1920s. But way back in 1849, the Austrian navy used balloon-based UAV technology in the very first instance of the offensive use of air power in naval aviation. And in 1901, Spanish engineer Leonardo Torres Quevedo began developing the Telekino a remote- controlled system to test aerostatic aircraft (like dirigibles) without risking human life.

Why are So Many Industries Investing in Drone Technology?

The combination of simplicity, adaptability and efficiency drones offer makes them very useful across a great number of industries. Tasks previously too dangerous, expensive, time-consuming, or impossible for humans to perform efficiently can now be handled by drones. From performing high-risk tasks to increasing the speed and efficiency of operations to providing superior data accuracy, drones offer exceptional value to many sectors.

Some of the industries currently experiencing the positive impacts of drones’ versatility include:

• Search and Rescue: From surveying disaster zones to assess damage to delivering supplies and First Aid, drones can improve emergency response dramatically. Need to know what kind of human response to send to the scene? Drones can quickly size up the severity of an accident or fire to inform rescue teams. Drones with heat sensors can successfully locate missing persons in rugged and wooded terrain and other low-visibility conditions.
  

• Logistics and Delivery: Drones are instrumental in delivery of medical supplies and emergency equipment in hard-to-reach areas during disasters. Machine parts can be brought to remote job sites or transported to offshore platforms with ease. Closer to home, several large retailers are using drones to complement their delivery workforce.

Education: Students “playing” with drones gain hands-on experience in robotics, computer programming, and aerodynamics. And they learn how to use critical thinking to troubleshoot logistical problems as they occur.

Warfare: Some militaries use drones for reconnaissance to intercept and neutralize threats, to precisely guide attacks on enemy positions, to remotely detonate explosives, and more, all without endangering the lives of their own troops. As we are seeing in war zones like Ukraine, drones can also locate injured individuals, assess hazards, and even provide triage before human rescuers enter high risk areas. In Rwanda, the use of drones for blood delivery resulted in a 67% reduction in wasted blood products last year alone.

Risky Business?

While drones are becoming ubiquitous in our every day lives and can help solve real problems, their wide availability and relatively low cost also create some big challenges for society. Unfortunately, there are all manner of potential safety and privacy risks that come with using this advanced technology.

Security and safety concerns

The ease of use and inexpensive accessibility of drones make it easier for the modern criminal to use to their advantage as well. During a recent interview on WAKR radio, SACS President and CEO Tim Dimoff discussed this growing security threat:

“Every time some new technology is created, the good guys are going to find ways to use it for positive reasons – and the bad guys will also use it to their advantage. According to our research at SACS into the cutting edge of security technology and what’s going on in criminology, drones are the fastest evolving security threat in the United States.” ~Tim Dimoff

For example, drug dealers can deliver their goods with drones. And they can use them surveil delivery areas in real time to ensure that there are no police around. Prisons report drones flying over their recreational areas to carry weapons, drugs and other contraband to prisoners inside. Hackers could disrupt or terrorize public events or expose sensitive data to the risk of theft.

One of the things that makes it so difficult to defend against drones is that they can be controlled from short or long distances. So it is challenging to track down the perpetrators when they are used for a crime.

Regulatory hurdles pose additional challenges

Several companies are developing counter-drone technologies that can detect drones’ radio frequencies and other electronic signatures and provide threat mitigations like signal jamming. But while pilots can be arrested (if found), U.S. law enforcement has no legal authority to take down a drone. As the skies become ever more crowded with drones, the need for regulation and control becomes more and more evident. We need clear legislation and policies that allow law enforcement to physically defend against drones deployed for illegal purposes.

What about privacy?

Unauthorized surveillance is another big potential concern. The privacy we should expect and enjoy as citizens may be eroding as drone technology proliferates. There are widespread concerns that criminals might collect unauthorized data or footage. Some communities are also speaking out against the sale of information – legitimately collected via drones for safety and security reasons by authorized agencies – to commercial enterprises without the consent of the individuals surveilled.

Additional impacts on the future of law enforcement

The proliferation of drones used for both good and ill has opened up a whole new sector of law enforcement. Modern security agencies need more specifically-trained personnel at the ready to operate the drones that handle emergencies. Younger people who have grown up with ever-evolving technology have more skills in this realm. This makes them desirable candidates for this facet of law enforcement.

How SACS Consulting can help

While SACS does not offer drone services directly, we do partner with drone companies to further investigations. We have worked on cases in which drones were involved in unauthorized spying on people and property. We have also supported police departments searching for missing persons using drones.

SACS can also provide consulting and guidance to businesses who have concerns about drone use. We would be happy to advise you on issues like:

• Suspicion of drones spying on your business
• Need for monitoring of large evens to prevent negative drone activity

For readers who have audiences interested in the positive and negative impacts of drone technology, we have developed a potent presentation. If you would like us to present this important topic at your trade show, business meeting, safety council, chamber of commerce, or other relevant constituency, please contact us.

Drones are clearly here to stay. Our aim at SACS is to be a voice for and example of their positive use.