Militarized drones inflict a lot of destruction on various parts of the world and there isn't much that is positive that can be said about them. But that isn't the case when it comes to non-militarized drones which have now made their way into the hands of millions of consumers around the world.

These drones are used from everything to filming football practice to surveying volcanoes and more. Listed below are a number of ways in which we use drones to improve our standard of living and provide a great benefit to humanity.

1. Humanitarian Aid

Right now the US Marine Corps is looking into using drones in order to deliver supplies and other humanitarian aid when needed. And they aren't the only ones. Interestingly, they have been looking into using disposable drones in order to do it and they are experimenting with one that is made from mostly plywood that will cost around $1,500 or less. A number of companies in this space are looking to create a drone that will help in this way, companies like Windhorse Aerospace, Otherlab, and others.

Drones can help get the material to areas that might be difficult to reach because of natural disasters and other issues. Drones will also be a much cheaper option as a method for getting supplies to those who need it. Windhorse Aerospace has created a prototype that has the drone wings unfold so that they can be used as firewood and its body cover can be used as shelter.

2. Farming

Drones are being used in a number of ways to help farmers get the job done in a more efficient manner. Drones are playing a big role in agriculture and we can expect to see their use in that market expand even further in the years to come. Drones have been helpful in assisting with soil analysis, crop planting, crop monitoring, spraying, and irrigation.

The drones help the farmers to more efficiently check their crops in order to see if there is any damage or issues that need to be addressed. Because of the growing prevalence and competition in the market, drones are also becoming cheaper for farmers to get their hands on so that they can benefit from using this technology on their property.

3. Wildlife Crime

Drones are helping scientists to not only better observe the natural habitats of the animals they are interested in examining but they can also help to protect endangered species too from those who want to harm them. There are already a number of anti-poaching groups that have employed the use of drones in order to try and help save elephants and rhinos. These drones monitor expansive land areas and patrol for possible poaching gangs.

The drones analyze not only the natural movements of the animals through the park but they also analyze the movements of the poachers, how they are attacking the animals. Where they have been tested they have already proven to be effective in helping in this way.

4. News Coverage

When a war zone or other political conflict makes it too difficult or too dangerous to get to the area and get the story, drones can help to give the public a picture of what is going on. And they have quickly become one of the most powerful tools that the newsroom has available to them.

The drones provide the media with new ways to approach a story, and they've already been helpful in providing valuable images; like those which give a sense of the impact of the Syrian Civil War currently going on. CNN, New York Times, and others are already well-versed on using and incorporating drone technology into their news coverage.

5. Combat Wildfires

Forest fires are incredibly dangerous and they happen all the time in many different areas around the US and the world. It can be a very stressful and dangerous environment to navigate and this is where drones come in, as they help to collect and send valuable information regarding wind conditions.

The drones help them to get more data for less of a cost and they don't need to put anyone in harm's way in order to do it. Typically they would send out a firefighter with a tablet etc in order to get the info, but quite often with fires taking place in rural areas these firefighters often find themselves without any internet connection or with an unreliable device.

The drones are able to gather the information quickly about the fire conditions and they can then send that information to the firefighters; the more information they have the better they can fight the fire.

These aren't the only uses for drones, they've already provided great value in a myriad of other ways as well.

Drones are also used heavily in the real estate market, they're used to herd sheep, deliver pizza, act as tour guides, and much more. The global potential for this technology seems limitless.

This market has already grown to a multi-billion dollar market and only expected to grow further in years to come. This tool is making its way to a number of different markets and industries and its helping to empower individuals by enabling them to do a better job, thus making that industry more effective overall.

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Sources:
https://steemit.com/technology/@doitvoluntarily/using-disposable-drones-to-deliver-supplies
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/global-drone-market-to-hit-11-2b-by-2020-report-says/
https://steemit.com/farming/@doitvoluntarily/5-ways-that-drones-are-changing-how-we-farm
http://mashable.com/2017/04/23/drones-social-good-humanitarian-aid/#wXnTHFqIeiqp
https://steemit.com/science/@doitvoluntarily/drone-market-looking-toward-the-sea
https://steemit.com/science/@doitvoluntarily/scientists-develop-pollinating-drones-to-serve-in-the-event-of-honey-bee-extinction
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/03/business/meet-your-friendly-neighborhood-drones/
http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/19/technology/innovation/fire-fighting-drones/