2024年天空无界：英国无人机行业增长潜力与商业机遇研究报告（第三版）

IndustryinFocus

SkiesWithoutLimits

v3.0

September2024

PWC

Contents

SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

Section1–Overview

Introduction

GrowthandCommercialVolumeUnlockingDronePotential

UKVersustheRestoftheWorldChangesintheUKApproach

Conclusion

Section2–Methodology

Section3–OrganisationSummaries

MaritimeandCoastguardAgency(Surveillance)Windracers(MiddleMileDelivery)

Manna(LastMileDelivery)sees.ai(BVLOSInspection)Cyberhawk(Inspection)

AutoSpraySystemsandDroneAg(Agriculture)

EnvironmentAgency(Survey)TeamUAV(InternalInspection)PlowmanCraven(Survey)

PwC(InventoryAudit)

Section4–ObservationsonBarrierstoGrowth

Perception

Regulation

Technology

Implementation

Skills

Section5–CaseStudies

TeamingMannedandUnmannedtoDeliverEffectiveSearchandRescueinUKWaters

NewLogisticsUsingExistingInfrastructuretoConnectCommunities

Food,ParcelandMedical“Last-mile”Delivery,CouldWeGoaLittleFaster?RemotePilotingPavingtheWayforAutonomousBVLOS

TheCriticalityofIntegratingDroneswithBusiness-as-Usual

AutomatingTraditionalAgriculturalPractices

RapidResponseatTimesofEnvironmentalCrisisReducingLeakswithSmartSolutions

HighlyAccurateDronesKeepingPassengersandEngineersSafeandMinimisingCommutingDelays

DigitalTransformationinStockpileAuditing

Contact

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SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

AninsightintotheprogressoftheUKdroneindustryfromtheperspectiveoforganisationsfeaturedintheSkiesWithoutLimitsv2.0casestudies

1

Overview

Introduction

PwC’sreport“SkiesWithoutLimitsv2.0”1(SWL2)describedthepotentialfordronestopositivelyimpacttheUKeconomyby2030.Itnotedthatdronesareoftenfaster,safer,cheaperandbetterforthe

environmentthanotheroptionsandthatthereweremanybarrierstoovercometounlockdronepotential.

Inthisreport,weofferaninsightintotheprogress(or

otherwise)oftheUKdroneindustryfrom2021to2024,throughthelensoftenexcitingorganisationsfeaturedintheSWL2casestudies,alongwithPwC,whichisan

innovatorandheavyuserofdroneservices2.Drone

applicationsrangefromBVLOS(BeyondVisualLineofSight)surveillanceandinspectiontocropsprayingandseeding,tolast-miledelivery.Viewsonwhethergrowthsince2021hasmetexpectations,andthelevelof

progressagainstthepotentialbarrierstogrowthidentifiedinSWL23,areequallyvaried.

GrowthandCommercialVolume

Ahandfuloforganisationsreportfasterthanexpectedgrowthsince2021andwehavesomeenticingheadlinessuchasdailyBVLOSflights,routineBVLOSin

unsegregatedairspace,dronessprayingchemicalsand“automotive-like”droneproductionintheUK.

However,ifwelookbehindtheheadlineswefindamorenuancedsituation:BVLOSisseverelyrestricted,

chemicalsprayingislimitedtouncontrolledsubstancesandsignificantgrowthisusuallydrivenbyinternationalratherthanUKdemand.Noneoftheorganisations

focusingonBVLOSconsidertheyhaveachieved

commercialvolume4intheUKanduncertaintyaboutthetimingofroutineBVLOSoperationsinunsegregated

airspacehas,arguably,contributedtonervousnessandfundingchallengesintheUKventurecapitalandprivateequitysectors.

UnlockingDronePotential

WeaskedtheorganisationstoevaluatewhetherthebarrierstogrowthidentifiedinSWL2(Perception,Implementation,Technology,Regulation,Skills3)

werelimitingtheirgrowthin2021and2024.Weuseda

simpleRAG5ratingtocapturetheorganisations’

perspectives:greenindicatedthatthebarrierdidnot

presentanyissuesintermsofgrowth,ambersomeissuesandredsignalledasignificantissue.Overall,wefoundapositiveoutlookwith60%ofall2024barrierresponses

markedgreenand35%amber.Intermsoftrend,44%ofallbarrierresponsesshowedanimprovementfrom2021to2024,with51%stayingthesame.

ThemostpositivechangeisinPerception(clientor

stakeholderattitudesto,andopennesstowardsthe

solution)withmorethan70%notinganimprovementsince2021andmorethan90%markingitasgreenin2024.Thisreflectstheincreasedacceptanceand

normalisationofdronesolutions.Wefoundthat

organisationswhichhadfacedregulatorychallenges,suchasBVLOSorchemicalspraying,in2021oftenfelttheyhadmadethemostprogress.However,as

mentionedabove,thisperceivedprogressdidnotenablethemtoreachcommercialvolume.

Conversely,Regulation(theextenttowhichcurrent

regulationsfacilitatethesolution)garneredthelowestpercentageofgreenresponses(27%).Aroundafifthofrespondentsmarkeditred(issue),whilethemajority

markeditasamber(indicatingsomeissues).Most

respondentsviewedRegulationasunchangedduringtheperiod.Notably,thiscategoryalsoshowedtheonlydeclineintrendsfrom2021to2024,withone

organisation’sperceptionshiftingfromambertored,

leadingthemtofocusinvestmentoffshore.Thisisnottosuggestthatnoprogresshasbeenmade;approximatelyathirdofthosemarkingitamberin2024viewedthisasanimprovementfromredin2021.

Anotherinterestingfindingwasthatafeworganisations,particularlythoseinnovatingoutsideofBVLOS,gavetheimpressionthattheywereincontroloftheirowndestinyandnotconstrainedbythebarrierstogrowthin2021or2024.Theirsituationsvariedfromfacinginternalfundingchallenges6toexperiencingnosignificantgrowthissues.

WeexpandonRegulationandPerceptionand

discussTechnology,ImplementationandSkillsinSection3below.

1.SkiesWithoutLimitsv2.0

2.Althoughweviewtheseentitiesasrepresentativeandthefindingsarepredominantlyasexpected,11isasmallsamplesize,resultsshouldbeseeninthiscontextandreadingthefullcasestudiesinSection5isrecommended

3.

SkiesWithoutLimitsv2.0

,pages6-10

4.Commercialvolumereferstoadronesolutionthatissufficientlymatureandhasenoughendclientdemandtoresultinacompetitivemarketandprofitableoperations.Forexample,in2021wecouldhavesaidthatVLOSoilandgasdroneinspectionwasatcommercialvolume.

5.RAG–Red,Amber,Greenstatusforthebarrierstogrowthwheregreenrepresentsnoissues,ambersomeissuesandredindicatesthebarrierisanissueintermsofgrowth

6.InternalfundingchallengesmaybeviewedasaPerceptionissue,butnotbytheorganisationthatreportedthemwhomarkedPerceptiongreen

SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.03

UKVersustheRestoftheWorld

WeaskedorganisationswithinternationaloperationstocomparetheirexperiencesintheUKwiththoseinothercountries.ArecurringthemewastheUK

regulators’particularlyrisk-averseattitude,whichtheorganisationsbelievedcontrastswiththerestofthe

worldandslowsdowntherealisationofdronebenefits,especiallyinareassuchasBVLOSandchemical

spraying.AnotherthemewasthattheUKregulator

appearedlesscommerciallyfocussedthanother

countries.Accordingly,manyoftheorganisationsthatrelyonBVLOSand/orprioritisegrowthhaveexpandedbylookingforopportunitiesoutsidetheUK.

ChangesintheUKApproach

Asyoumightexpectfromthepreviouspoints,whenweaskedorganisationsaboutthechangestheywantedintheUK,theyfocusedonregulations(BVLOSand

chemical)andexpressedadesireforachangeinattitudetowardsrisk,acommercialfocus,andthe

simplificationofflightpermissions.Manyofthe

organisationsnotedthattheregulatorhadmade

progressandwasplanningfurtherpositivechanges,

suchasSORA7andpilotcompetence8.Wenotethattheaviationregulator’sinitiatives,outlinedintheFutureof

FlightActionPlan9arenowbetterfundedandresourcedthaneverbeforeandwillhaveatransformativeimpactwhenimplemented.Wealsonotecontinuingprogressinareasincluding,butnotlimitedto,digitisation(DiSCO10),furtherBVLOSsandboxtrials11(includinglast-mile

delivery)andthatthenextphaseoftheFutureFlightChallengewillbefocussedoncommercialisationoftheseexcitingnewtechnologies.

Wecontinuetosubscribetotheviewthatinitiatives

shouldbeuse-caseled,withresourcesfocussedon

applicationsthathavethemostcompellingcombinationofend-clientpull,benefitsandriskprofile.Refertoour

2023paperwiththeDepartmentofScience,InnovationandTechnology(DSIT),BuildingTrustinCommercial

Drones(BTiCD)12andtoSection4,below.TheresponsesalsoimplythatthattheUKshouldlooktolearnfrom

othercountries,particularlyregardingattitudetorisk,

focusoncommercialisationand,arguably,thefoundationalrolethatUTM13couldplayinsafelyincreasingdroneoperations14.

Conclusion

Inconclusion,althoughthislimitedsamplesuggeststhat

theUKdroneindustryhasmadenotablestridesoverthepastthreeyears,ithasnotadvancedatthepace

requiredtoachievetheadoptioncurvethatunderpins

thefiguresinSWL215.Quantifyingthisshifttotherightisoutofscopeforthispaper.

Thenextsectionsoutlineourmethodology,presenta

summaryoforganisationresponsesandexamine

recurringthemesinthePwCbarriertogrowthcategoriesofPerception,Regulation,Technology,

ImplementationandSkills.Thefinalsectionpresentsthecasestudies,andweextendoursincerethankstotheorganisationsforparticipatinginthispaper

Disclaimer:Thisdocumentisbasedonthe

responsesreceivedfromtheorganisations,withthe

opinionsexpressedbeingsolelythoseofthe

respectiverespondentsunlessstatedotherwise.Pleasenotethatthereferencesareintendedtobeillustrativeratherthanexhaustive.

7.

CAASpecificOperationsRiskAssessmentUpdat

e

8.

CAAPilotcompetence,thefutureRemotePilotCompetence(RPC)scheme

9.

DfTFutureofFlightActionPla

n

10.

CAADigitisingSpecificCategoryOperations(DiSCO)projectoverview

,also

PDRA-01tool

11.

CAANewtrialssettohelpunlockdronedeliveriesandinspectionsintheUK

12.DSITandPwC,

BuildingTrustinCommercialDrones

13.UnmannedorUncrewedTrafficManagement(not“Unified”inthispaper)

14.RefertoSection4,TechnologywhichnotesthatsomecountriesviewUTMasfoundationaltech

15.

SkiesWithoutLimitsv2.0

,pages2,6,54-56

4SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

2

Methodology

SWL2,incollaborationwithDSITandDfT,describedthepotentialfordronestopositivelyimpacttheUKeconomyby2030.

Itnotedthatdronesareoftenfaster,safer,cheaperandbetterfortheenvironmentthanotheroptionsandthatthereweremanybarrierstoovercometounlockdronepotential.SWL2noted5potentialbarrierstogrowth16:

Perception

Clientorstakeholderattitudesto,andopennesstowardsthesolution

Implementation

Successinintegratingthesolutionwithbusinessasusual

Technology

Availabilityandefficacyoftechnologyrequiredtofacilitatethesolution

回

Regulation

Degreetowhichcurrentregulationsfacilitatethesolution

Skills

Abilitytofindtheappropriatemixofskillsinthemarket

Weaskedtheorganisationswhethertheseperceivedbarrierstogrowthwereanissuein2021andwhetherthishadchangedin2024.WeusedasimpleRAG(red,amber,green)format:green(noissue),red(issue),andamber(someissues).

Weaskedarangeofotherquestionsinareasincludingachievements,businessprofile,limitingfactors,BVLOSsignificance,viewsonUTM17andwhethertheirbusinesswasatcommercialvolume18.Anotherkeyquestionfor

someorganisationswaswhethertheirUKbusinesswasperformingdifferentlycomparedtotheir

internationalbusiness.

16.

SkiesWithoutLimitsv2.0

,pages6-10

17.UnmannedorUncrewedTrafficManagement(not“Unified”inthispaper)

18.Commercialvolumereferstoadronesolutionissufficientlymatureandhasenoughendclientdemandtoresultinacompetitivemarketandprofitableoperations.Forexample,in2021wecouldhavesaidthatVLOSoilandgasdroneinspectionwasatcommercialvolume.

6SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

3

OrganisationSummaries

SummaryofBarrierstoGrowthStatus

Thissectionsummarisesthecasestudyupdates,refertoSection5forthefullversion.

MCA

Windracers

Manna

sees.ai

Cyberhawk

AutoSpray

DroneAg

EA

TeamUAV

PC

PwC

Barrier

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Skills

BVLOScoreYes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Partial

No

No

No

No

No

No

PrimeusecaseSurveillance

MiddleMile

LastMile

Inspection

Inspection

Agriculture

Agriculture

Survey

Inspection

Survey

Survey

TerritoryUK

Global

Global

UK

Global

UK

Global

UK

UK

UK

Global

BarrierandRAGdefinitionsintheMethodologysectionabove.Arrowindicatestrendfrom2021to2024.MCAisMaritimeandCoastguardAgency,EAisEnvironmentAgencyandPCisPlowmanCraven.

8SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

MaritimeandCoastguardAgency(Surveillance)

DailyBVLOSforsurveillance

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Skills

BVLOScoreYes

Primeusecase

Surveillance

Territory

UK

TheMaritimeandCoastguardAgency(MCA)hasmadesignificantstridessince2021andarenowconductingdailyBVLOSsurveillancemissionsintheEnglish

ChannelthroughtheirsupplierBristows.Despitetheseadvancements,regulatoryconstraintscontinuetolimittheircoveragearea,operatinghours,andabilityto

respondswiftlytoemergencies.MCAisactively

advocatingforregulatorychangesandashiftinriskmindsettoenableeffectiveBVLOSemergency

responsesthroughouttheirpatrolarea.

Themostnotablebarriertogrowthfrom2021to2024isregulation,whichhasremainedflatandmarkedred,indicatingitwasandstillisasignificantissue.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.09

Windracers(MiddleMileDelivery)

“Automotive-like”dronemanufacturingintheUK

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation7

Skills

BVLOScoreYes

Primeusecase

MiddleMile

Territory

Global

Windracershasmadeconsiderableprogresssince2021,leveragingtheirUKachievementstoseize

internationalopportunitiesinbothmilitaryand

commercialsectors.TheybelievetheUkrainewarhas

shiftedtheUAVmarketfromaquestionof“if”to“when,”drivingincreasedinternationaldemandandenabling

themtoestablishanautomotive-styleproductionfacilityintheUK.However,progresswithintheUKhasbeen

slower,promptingWindracerstourgeregulatorsto

expeditetheapprovalprocessforBVLOSoperations,especiallythosewithstrongend-customerdemandinsparselypopulatedareas.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024includeanimprovementinperceptionfromambertogreenandregulationfromredtoamber.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

10SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

Manna(LastMileDelivery)

Lastmiledronedeliverywith“positiveuniteconomics”

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Skills

BVLOScoreYes

Primeusecase

LastMile

Territory

Global

Mannahasmadesignificantprogressintechnology,

regulation,andmarketpenetrationsince2021,with

“positiveuniteconomics”claimed.However,theyare

unabletooperateintheUKduetomorerestrictive

regulationscomparedtocountrieslikeIrelandandtheUSA.ThereisalsouncertaintyaboutwhetherManna’spositiveperceptionofdeliverydroneswouldholdtrueintheUK,asdeliverydroneswereamongtheleast

supportedusecasesinthe2023BuildingTrustinCommercialDrones(BTiCD)19report.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024showperception,implementation,andtechnology

improvingtogreen.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

19.PwCandDSIT,

BuildingTrustinCommercialDrones

SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.011

Sees.ai(BVLOSInspection)

RegularBVLOSinspectioninunsegregatedairspace

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Skills

BVLOScoreYes

Primeusecase

Inspection

Territory

UK

Since2021,sees.aihassuccessfullyimplementedroutineinspectionsofpowerlinesusingremotely

piloteddrones.TheysecuredtheUK’sfirst

permissiontoconductregularBVLOSflightsinnon-segregatedairspace,facilitatedbystrongend-clientdemand.However,growthhasbeenconstrainedbycapitalavailability.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024showallcategoriestrendingup,withregulation

improvingtoamber.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

12SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

Cyberhawk(Inspection)

Morethan100%droneserviceprovidergrowth

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Skills

BVLOScorePartial

Primeusecase

Inspection

Territory

UK

Cyberhawkhasseenimpressiveprogressoverthepastthreeyears,withglobalrevenueincreasingbymorethan100%from2021to2023andheadcountreaching

around200.CyberhawkisarguablymorefocussedonImplementationthanmostandwecanspeculatethatthiswasakeypartoftheirsuccess.However,growth

hasbeendrivenprimarilybytheUSandMiddleEast,astheyfeelconstrainedbytheUK’sregulatoryapproach,whichtheyconsiderhasbecomelessprogressivesince2021.Despitethis,theyareoptimisticabouttheUK’s

newregulatorydirectionandbelievethatBVLOScouldhelpreducecostsintheUKasithasintheUSA.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024showachangeinregulationfromambertored.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.013

AutoSpraySystemsandDroneAg(Agriculture)

SprayingandseedingintheUK

SWL2casestudy

Scanning,spraying,andseedingarenowarealityintheUK,thankstoprogressmadebyAutoSpraySystems,

DroneAg,andotherswiththeCAAandCRD(ChemicalsRegulationDirectorate)overthepastthreeyears.

AutoSpraySystems

Barrier

DroneAg

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Althoughoperationsarecurrentlysmall-scale,thereissubstantialpotentialtogrowthemarketandcontributetoUKfoodsecuritywithmoreapprovedchemicalsandsimplifiedflightpermissions.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024

showimprovementsintechnologytogreenforboth,withregulationamber,animprovementforAutoSprayand

flatforDroneAg.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

Skills

BVLOScore

No

No

Primeusecase

Agriculture

Agriculture

TerritoryUKGlobal

14SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

EnvironmentAgency(Survey)

Expandinginternaldroneuse

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Skills

BVLOScoreNo

Primeusecase

Survey

Territory

UK

TheEnvironmentAgency(EA)hascontinuedtooperatea24/7,365-dayfloodresponseservicethrougha

vendor.Since2021,theEAhassignificantlyincreased

itsnumberofpilotsanddevelopedadditionalusecases.Theyhaveintegrateddronesfromaproject-based

approachintotheirroutineoperations.TheprimarygrowthchallengesfacedbytheEAareinternalratherthanexternal.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024showallcategoriesremainingflat,withregulation

stayingatamber.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.015

TeamUAV(InternalInspection)

Developinginspectioninconfinedspaces

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

TeamUAVhasincreasedfocusoninternalinspectionsinconfinedspaces,drivenbytheabilitytobypassmany

regulatoryobstacles,enhancesafety,andprovide

Perception/

Implementation

Technology7

Regulation

Skills

valuabledata.Despitethistransitionsuggestinglargelyunimpededgrowth,theyfacechallengessuchasskillshortagesandclientsformingtheirowndroneteams.

TheybelieveBVLOSoperationsinunsegregated

airspacewouldenablethemtoexpandtheirbusinessintheUK.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024showregulationmarkedgreenduetotheirfocuson

VLOSandinternaldrones20andskillsmarkedred.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

BVLOScoreNo

Primeusecase

Inspection

Territory

UK

20.Notsubjecttothesameregulationsasexternaldrones

16SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

PlowmanCraven(Survey)

Evolutionofhigh

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

accuracysolutions

PlowmanCravenachievedremarkableaccuracyin

surveyingrailwaysin2021,deliveringsignificantsafety,cost,andefficiencybenefits.Theyaretheonly

itisincontrolofitsowndestiny.Theyviewdrone

solutionsascomplementarytotheirtraditionallandsurveybusinessratherthananendinthemselves.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024showallcategoriesremainingflatandgreen.

respondenttoconsiderallbarrierstogrowthasgreeninboth2021and2024,reflectingacompanythatbelieves

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Skills

BVLOScoreNo

Primeusecase

Survey

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

TerritoryUK

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.017

PwC(InventoryAudit)

Integrationofdroneswithbusinessasusual

SWL2casestudy

Barrier

Perception

Implementation

Technology

Regulation

Skills

BVLOScoreNo

Primeusecase

Survey

Territory

Global

PwChasbeenapioneerinusingdronesforinventory

auditingsince2018.Since2021,theyhavefullyintegrateddronesintotheirbusinessoperations,expandedthescopeofinventorycovered,anddeliveredservicesinternationally.Theyhavealsoadoptedaflexibleapproachtoaerialdata,

incorporatingsatellitecapture.

Notableviewsonbarrierstogrowthfrom2021to2024showimprovementsinperceptionandimplementationtogreen.

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

GotoSection5toreadthefullcasestudyupdate

18SkiesWithoutLimitsv3.0

4

Observationson

BarrierstoGrowth

Perception

Clientorstakeholderattitudesto,andopennesstowardsthedronesolution

Inourdiscussionofbarrierstogrowthinthefirst

section,wenotedthatthemostpositivechangeisin

Perception,withover70%reportinganimprovement

since2021andmorethan90%markingitasgreen.This

reflectsincreasedopennesstodrones.Organisationsfacingregulatorychallengesin2021,likeBVLOSor

chemicalspraying(Windracers,Manna,sees.ai,AutoSpray),felttheyhadmadethemostPerception

progress,buthavenotachievedcommercialvolume.Thismirrorsthefindingsinour2023BuildingTrustinCommercialDrones(BTiCD)21paper,wheremorethan80%ofrespondentsthoughtthatdroneswouldbe

beneficialtotheirindustryandpositivefeelingaboutcommercialdronesincreasedfrom56%in2019to72%in2022.

However,inSWL2,westatedthat

AlthoughmanythoughtthatnegativePublic

Perceptioncouldlimittheadoptionofdrone

technology,todate,ithasnotbeenasignificantbarriertogrowthinCommercialDrone

applicationssuchasInspectionandSurvey.

PublicPerceptionislikelytobeamuchmore

significantpointwhenLastMileDeliveryof

parcelsandfoodstartstogainmomentumand,toalesserextent,whenDrone-in-a-Boxusecasessuchassecuritymonitoringemerge.”

Withpracticallyzeroofthepotentiallymoreintrusive

usecases(last-miledelivery,drone-in-a-box)intheUK,onecouldarguethatthispointhasstillnotbeentested.IfweconsidertheWindracers(middle-mile)andManna

(last-mile)deliveryapplications,thecompanies

themselvesreportverypositiveend-clientperception,implyingPerceptionmaynotbeanissue.

Mannasay:

Consumersurveyshaveindicatedpositive

sentimenttowardsdronedeliveryformany

years(88%+ofconsumersareinfavourofthe

service).Overthepast3years,wehaveseen

increasedlevelsofacceptanceandasenseof

inevitabilityacrossinvestorsandthebusiness

communitythatdronedeliverywillbepartofthefabricofmodernsocietyinthenearfuture.”

However,therearesomeinternationalexampleswheredeliverydrones