Re-evaluating the Drone Market
In 2015, consumer drones hit $443 million, in 2016 it was estimated to hit $799 million—2017 is projected at $1.3 BILLION. The consumer drone market nearly doubles from year to year, a consistent trend since 2013.
One of the major target demographics for consumer drones is the hobbyist market. Last year, we wrote about the FAA regulations on drones. However, earlier this year, a federal appeals court struck down the rule that hobbyist drones must be registered with the FAA. The court found this rule to be unconstitutional.
For you, that means customers will be more likely to purchase knowing that they won’t have to jump through hoops to be able to use their purchase.
Fully Immersive
The Infinity NX Drone from Odyssey Toys is a prime example of a drone that appeals to hobbyists. It offers an immersive experience for users. It features a 720p camera and connects to the user’s smartphone over Wi-Fi.
Another major draw of newer drone models is the fully immersive interaction it can provide. Drone models, such as the DISCO fixed-wing drone from Parrot, offer users a chance to feel like they are flying.
These FPV (first-person view) drones use VR-style goggles to put the user in the cockpit of the drone. This takes the experience to incredibly new heights (pun fully intended).
This experience has allowed for new sensations when flying drones, but it has also unlocked user imagination.
FPV technology has also inspired filmmakers. Formerly, to get sweeping overhead shots and expository landscapes, cinematographers would have to rely on cranes and helicopters—neither is cheap or practical. But now, filmmakers can accomplish many of the same shots using drones.
Drones have even started to seep into our popular media. In the 2016 horror sequel Blair Witch, much of the found footage is captured through drones. It is the next progressive step in our technological landscape.
Drones open up worlds of imagination and possibility.
Mass Appeal
It is important to note that drones are more than toys or collectibles. They can become essential hardware for many businesses.
Businesses that need to survey locations are now able to go out into the field without leaving a singular spot—this saves on other expenses such as manpower, time and fuel. But, this sort of location inspection is only one industry that has come to rely on drones.
A growing market that is incorporating drones is the home security market. Sunflower Labs has developed a system of sensors that incorporate drones to investigate unusual outdoor activity. It is this sort of innovation that makes drone technology so revolutionary.
The Balance also reports that drones are becoming an indispensable tool in the arsenal of search and rescue organizations.” In many of the same ways drones have proved vital to inspection services, they provide those time-saving features into life-saving resources. “Equipping drones with infrared and/or night vision sensors allows search and rescue teams to detect missing individuals by heat emissions as well as visually, and drones can deliver emergency supplies as needed.“
These are just a sample of the number of industries that can benefit from drone technology.
The Takeaway
Getting your customers to understand the full potential of drone technology is key. Getting them to think beyond the “cool” factor of drones will allow you to influence key sales where they may not be expected.
Visit our full line of drones to unlock the full potential of this growing market.