The future of drone technology is here

The future of drone technology is here and the UK government is being presented with a landmark national strategy to capitalise on this opportunity. The Drone Delivery Group, an independent collaboration of over 400 leading industry experts, commentators, and stakeholders, has submitted the White Paper, “A National Strategy for Drones Across Land, Sea, and Air” to the UK government, calling for a harmonised and coordinated approach to standards and regulations across land, sea, and air.

The drone industry is estimated to be worth over £45 billion to the UK alone by 2030 and has the potential to add billions to the UK economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. However, the current lack of harmonisation between the application of regulations and industry standards between air, land, and maritime drones presents a major concern. The White Paper is a response to this and aims to address the issue by calling for strong government support for a harmonised approach to the regulation and standardisation of drones across all domains in the UK.

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According to industry experts, autonomous or remotely piloted drones are inevitable and will form an integral part of the world economy, helping to shape a cleaner and more prosperous economic outlook. However, without a solid strategy, operational chaos, reduced safety, and data security will result in what continues to be a predominantly manned transport environment. The White Paper tackles the need for better harmonisation of regulations and standards across all domains to prepare for the imminent arrival of digitally operated autonomous drones.

John Haffenden, Chief Executive Officer of the Drone Delivery Group, stated that they aim to maximize the benefit of drones to society, build a strong drone industry, and ensure that the UK captures the obvious benefits this will bring to the economy. Robert Garbett, Chairman of the Senior Advisory Board of the Drone Delivery Group, added that the estimate for the economic benefit of drone technology by PWC is £45bn in contributions and £22bn in net savings to UK plc by 2030, which focuses solely on the use of drones in the air. When considering land, maritime, and air drones together, the growth opportunity is immense and ready to be taken forward now.

Not only does drone technology have the potential to bring huge economic benefits, but it can also reduce carbon emissions by 2.4m tonnes. However, this will not be possible unless the UK changes the way it regulates drones across all domains, with safety and the security of data being the main priorities. The government must act now to firmly establish the UK as an industry leader in drone technology.

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The White Paper, along with the three associated research papers supporting its recommendations, sets out a strategy for the UK government to facilitate the adoption of autonomous drone technology, safely and securely across the UK. The work of the Operational Delivery Committee of the Drone Delivery Group, headed by the Chair of the ODC Fred Harbottle, has been commended for its robust approach to this issue and has received extensive support from feedback during its consultation period.

In conclusion, the drone industry is an exciting opportunity that could shape the future of the UK economy and society. The White Paper presented by the Drone Delivery Group calls for a harmonised and coordinated approach to regulations and standards across all domains to ensure safety, and security, and maximise the benefits that drones can bring. The UK government has the chance to lead the world in this remarkable technology by laying the foundations for the industry to flourish.

It is widely accepted that traditional forms of transport would not dramatically evolve past their original purpose. However, drones have created a paradigm shift that requires an evolution in the way the UK regulates this area. The Drone Delivery Group is calling on the UK government to seize this opportunity and establish the UK as an industry leader in drone technology.

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