Title: Revolutionising the skies: exploring the latest trends and cutting-edge research in commercial drone technology

Authors: Emre Özbek; Alper Dalkıran; Selcuk Ekici; T. Hikmet Karakoc

Addresses: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology and Operatorship Program, Eskisehir Technical University, Eskisehir, Turkey ' School of Aviation, Suleyman Demirel Univesity, Keciborlu, Isparta, Turkey ' Aviation Department, Igdir University, Igdir, Turkey ' Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Eskisehir Technical University, Eskisehir, Turkey; Information Technology Research and Application Center, Istanbul Ticaret University, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract: Commercial aerial drone systems have gained significance in various industries, such as agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, cargo transport, security, and filming. This paper comprehensively reviews the trends and innovative research areas in commercial drone technology. The top five usage areas of drones are surveyed, and a master list of drone usage areas in the commercial sectors is provided. Furthermore, the current bottlenecks of the drone industry, such as endurance problems, noise issues, mid-air collision risks, navigation problems, insurance policies, and a lack of technical education opportunities, are evaluated. Finally, a list of innovative and trending research areas for drone technology is presented, which includes alternative energy sources, wireless charging methods, hybrid VTOL-drones, bio-inspired designs, and more. This paper serves as a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and researchers interested in drone-related technologies, and it has the potential to guide the future industry development.

Keywords: UAV; drone; trends; innovation; commercialisation of drones; performance bottlenecks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRIC.2023.132944

International Journal of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, 2023 Vol.5 No.1, pp.28 - 55

Received: 26 Feb 2023
Accepted: 11 Apr 2023
Published online: 20 Aug 2023 *

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