The rise of Europe’s drone sector is providing various new employment opportunities across many different industries. In late 2019, Alphabet’s drone delivery service, Wing, announced a testbed for their services inside the European Union. The move further demonstrates the trust that the Big Tech giant is putting into the growth of the drone sector in this part of the world.
Ireland’s Manna, a drone delivery startup, even managed to expand their services to the United States, and there is a wealth of other similar startups popping up all around the continent. The UK’s Skyports, for instance, are looking to expand their service all across Europe while they still open offices further afield in South Korea. Germany’s Wingcopter have also worked hard in research and development to look into how hydrogen fuel can power their delivery drones.
There is more to the drone industry than merely delivery, though. Proveye, an Irish startup, are utilizing drones in the world of agriculture, whilst Skyqraft, a Swedish enterprise, have developed a system of drones and AI to aid in the inspection of power lines. The progress within the industry doesn’t end there, as the Netherlands are home to Fusion Engineering, who design innovative flight controls for commercial drone usage, and IVA Drones – based in France – offer a drones-as-a-service platform that allows businesses to book drones towards specific objectives.
It is not only the physical field that is making use of drones either: autonomous drones are being utilized to create dazzling light displays through the work of companies like Dronisos, who are based in France, as well as for film shoots and photoshoots. More generally, drones are being used to provide access to challenging heights with a minimal safety risk to workers, whilst computer vision technology is being used to help detect and monitor structures from a distance.
However, the ambition of the industry, specifically in the area of last-mile delivery services, has been tough to realize even for such a large corporation as Amazon, whose Prime Air project has been slowed down multiple times. But even if the development in this segment has had its ups and downs, there are still other means of drone technology that find steady usage.
Drone photography and video capturing are popular amongst creatives and industrial businesses, whilst software developers are finding use in creating software specifically tailored to the operation of these drones. Mechanical engineers also help in the construction and maintenance of drones, whilst technicians ensure that entire fleets are kept in peak condition. Photographers and videographers with experience working with drones are gaining recognition too and can provide either services or a supply of stock footage and images.
When it comes to mastering this technology, there are some steps you can take. As a first tip, investing in a craft and familiarizing yourself with local regulations is a great start. If the drone you own has sensing or recording technology, you should also have a good understanding of data collection rules – and make sure not to trespass on private property at any given time. To fly it, you must register for a pilot exam which can be done through online training.
The development of drone technology has opened a large number of employment opportunities; ranging from drone operators, pilots, and photographers to mechanics, software engineers and flight scientists. With a development in the industry, those with experience in aviation may also find a great job opportunity in this field.
Elaine Burke is an award-winning journalist, editor and broadcaster covering science, technology, and media. Burke has been previously featured as the editor of Silicon Republic before hosting For Tech’s Sake, a co-production of The HeadStuff Podcast Network and Silicon Republic. As an influential figure in the world of tech, Burke is one of the key faces to watch when regarding the progression of the drone industry.
Alphabet’s Wing is one of the major market players in the industry. With their delivery-by-drone services already in progress in Australia, their testbed in the EU in October allows them to spread the advantages of technology more widely and to more countries. The company’s spokesperson demonstrated their faith in the region’s possibility by citing the sustained progress of drone regulations as the main cause of their expansion in the market.
