There are several different definitions for drones, so the numbers may vary, but Business Insider Intelligence projects drone sales of more than USD 12 billion in 2021 for military, personal and commercial use.

Commercial applications for drones are especially on the rise with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19 percent from 2015 to 2020, and The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International estimates commercial drones will be worth USD 82 billion by 2025.

New ways of incorporating drones into the workforce are popping up everywhere, such as for marketing, expedient delivery and information gathering. In heavy industries like steel manufacturing, drones are playing an increasingly important role in workplace safety. When paired with AI, drones have even more possibilities for minimizing workplace hazards.

Accident Prevention

An accident in a heavy industry worksite can be disastrous for workers, the company as well as the environment. That’s why it’s important for factories to be able to monitor and prevent potential dangers before they happen, and it’s one of the most widely applied areas for drones.

Audi’s factory uses drones for automated parts transportation. (Source: Audi)

For example, steelmaker POSCO is incorporating drones into its smart factory to monitor gas leaks that are hard to detect. Workers also wear smart sensors that alert them of potential danger, and let others know their location in the factory.

SEE ALSO: How Factories Produce Steel – the Smart Way

Keeping Humans Out of Dangerous Industrial Areas

Besides monitoring the workplace, drones can be of practical use and take on dangerous and costly tasks formerly done by people. This includes accessing dangerous places. For example, drones can take aerial job site survey photos, eliminating the need for a pilot, helicopter and other employees. Construction companies are using drone mapping to create 3D models of their projects, saving time and resources along the way.

Drones can keep workers out of dangerous workplaces. (Source: Fortune)

The mining industry also uses drones to enter hazardous areas to gather information before sending in workers. Smart drones, or drones equipped with AI software, can provide and process information in real time, saving companies major costs.  

Accident Investigation

Even with drones, not all accidents are preventable. Once an accident occurs it’s vital to have accurate data that tells exactly how the event played out. Drones are a useful forensic tool to recall events and diagnose the situation. With this information, companies can not only fix equipment and operational failures, they can use the data for legal matters regarding insurance claims, court fees and compensation litigation.

Workers can use drones to access stored information. (Source: The Economist)

Due to the increasing adoption of drones in the workplace and the vital role they play in worker safety, the commercial drone market is looking to expand. With increased investment, drones are being upgraded from its structure to the software that goes in them.

What Drones are Made of

Drones are largely composed of a frame, motor, camera, propeller, sensor, controller and battery. The frame serves as the base of the drone to which various parts mounted. Therefore, the frame of the drone has to be light yet durable, in order to maintain its structural integrity and minimize battery consumption.

Most drones are powered by an electric battery. On longer flights and in harsh weather conditions, the motor gets overworked, putting a toll on the battery. Engineers are constantly working to improve the capacity of the battery, which usually results in a bigger, heavier battery pack.

The DJI Phantom 4 is an example of a drone with a magnesium body for weight reduction and added strength. (Source: Petapixel)

In order to make up for the added weight and volume, manufacturers are turning to light and strong materials such as magnesium, the lightest commercial metal available. Magnesium alloys are lighter than aluminum alloys and are widely used in smartphones, tablet PCs and automotive and aircraft parts. Magnesium alloys have high thermal conductivity and excellent heat dissipation. It also has high strength and durability against impact. Moreover, it is corrosion-resistant and cost-effective, making it an ideal material for drones.

The market for drones will be an exciting one to watch going into 2018 due to friendlier regulations, significant investments and drones’ unlimited potential for application. It will result in more industries actively incorporating drones into their operations, and the world can expect the launch of more technologically and structurally innovative drones that will play an increasingly vital role in workplaces.

Cover photo courtesy of Wired.

Advancements in electric cars, autonomous driving, car connectivity, and AI were on full display. Nissan and BMW unveiled plans to use Microsoft’s personal assistant technology, Cortana, with their cars. Honda became the first major manufacturer to develop an electric concept car specifically designed for ride-sharing. And as for self-driving cars – Nissan announced it would bring autonomous driving support to its Leaf electric car, Hyundai introduced one that would be affordable enough for the masses, and Audi announced a partnership with Nvidia to bring self-driving cars to market by 2020.

With all of the focus on electric cars and autonomous driving, it is easy to forget the basic building blocks that are needed to make these cars a reality. As Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt noted at CES, “Historically humans have zero tolerance of death by machine,” and for further adoption by the public, safety must be reinforced in autonomous vehicles. Increased safety in cars often goes hand-in-hand with heavier materials that can withstand more pressure. However, the push for more fuel efficient electric cars is pushing the industry to build with more lightweight components.

Car manufacturers are working to find the right balance between strength, weight, and price. The EPA has estimated that reducing a vehicle’s weight by 45kg (100lbs) will improve fuel efficiency by 1%, and while more lightweight materials do exist in aluminum and magnesium, they are often too cost-prohibitive for general use.

POSCO Body Concept Electric Vehicle

POSCO’s PBC-EV is both safe and lightweight

On this front, POSCO has been working to develop solutions for car manufacturers. The PBC-EV, or POSCO Body Concept Electric Vehicle, is one product of that research as POSCO sought to create a lighter car with the same strength and safety that is expected in today’s modern car market. POSCO focused on two main points when developing this lightweight car body. The first was the application of a combination of POSCO’s most advanced steels including TRIP, PosMCT950E, and PosMCT980B. Secondly, POSCO optimized existing construction methods and worked to introduce new techniques in order to both lighten and strengthen the body of the automobile. With its PBC-EV, POSCO was able to reduce weight by 26% while still maintaining the highest levels of body strength.

Magnesium technology

POSCO materials were used in the design of Renault’s EOLAB concept car

Many in the auto industry are setting their sights on magnesium as the future of car manufacturing. Magnesium can be easily molded and it is both lightweight and strong. Due to its high price, car makers have not fully embraced the move to magnesium yet, but POSCO is already preparing for this probability. Last month, POSCO’s World Premium Materials (WPM) – Magnesium Business Division organized a seminar with industry experts and automotive engineering students to discuss the future of magnesium in car manufacturing. Experts in magnesium, molding, bonding, and surface treatment were invited to speak about the application of magnesium technology in automobiles and students gave presentations on their own experience developing race cars.

Even though cars have been around since the late 19^th century, new ideas continue to force the industry to adapt and change. And whether it is optimizing existing manufacturing processes or working to utilize technologies for the future, POSCO remains committed to finding innovations in the auto industry.

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