How drones are advancing scientific research | Phys.Org

by Alex Kirkpatrick

19 June 2017

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Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have been around since the early 1900s. Originally used for military operations, they became more widely used after about 2010 when electronic technology got smaller, cheaper and more efficient, prices on cameras and sensors dropped, and battery power improved. Where once scientists could only observe earth from above by using manned aircraft or satellites, today they are expanding, developing and refining their research thanks to drones.

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Alex Kirkpatrick is a passionate writer and science communicator...

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