What are Challenges Faced by Drone Technology?

How to overcome the challenges of drone technology. Unveiling the Hurdles that Propel Drones to Forward

As industrial applications continue to broaden, Our fascination with drones has changed everything from logistics to entertainment. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) promise ease and creativity, but they also have several challenges that need to be addressed. The road to seamless drone technology is filled with barriers, from legal restrictions to technical constraints.

What is the Drone Technology?

Drones sometimes referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are used for a variety of jobs, from routine to extremely dangerous. These robotic-looking aircraft may be seen practically anywhere, from delivering groceries to your home to rescuing avalanche victims.

Drones were initially created for the aerospace and military industries, but because of the increased levels of efficiency and safety they bring, they have entered the public. These robotic UAVs fly independently and with varying degrees of autonomy.

An extensive range of applications (surveillance, logistical, agricultural, marine, etc.) has emerged as a result of the growing needs and uses in both the civil and military drone markets, as well as the potential for rapid technological development of these unmanned systems.

As it stands, there are the 3 main challenges that the drone industry and/or drone market is facing today.

Security: Hijacking

Safety: Identification

Regulation: Compliance issues

Security: Hijacking

For any high-tech product, security is a concern, and drones are no exception. Communications between drones and remote controllers are frequently encrypted. However, since the encrypted codes are frequently the same, hijacking is a suitable and simple target. Regarding the security aspect of drones, there are a few technical difficulties.

A lightweight solution is necessary for drones on both a physical and digital level. This has a direct bearing on how much power it uses and how long the battery lasts. Extra hardware (CMVP) is added to military drones to verify the communications security level.

Safety: Identification

When drones are misused, safety is always the primary concern. In contrast to a flying jet, drones are small, quick, and generally hard to spot. Public safety can be seriously compromised by just one person using a drone intentionally, especially close to important infrastructure like airports and nuclear power plants.

By distinguishing authorized devices from unauthorized ones, identification mitigates security risks, safeguarding sensitive areas and infrastructure. However, striking a balance between security and privacy concerns remains pivotal, necessitating standardized protocols that protect personal data while ensuring regulatory compliance. An identifying system for drones and their operators is specifically required for this reason.

Regulation: Compliance issues

Aviation authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US have started to introduce several new regulations as more people own drones, and also to give guidelines on how to operate drones in a safe and useful manner.

One of the key regulations to take effect very soon is RemoteID. This is a new regulation introduced by the FAA and it is the "ability of a drone in flight to provide identification and location information that can be received by other parties", such as law enforcement. To comply with this upcoming regulation, drone manufacturers are having to implement a solution to embed identification capabilities on the drone by the standards given by the FAA. The drone pilots/operators must also register themselves with the FAA before they can legally fly the drones.

Presenting the solution:

 swIDch offers an integrated answer to the three aforementioned challenges through swIDch Drone. This software and hardware solution achieves Pilot ID verification, securing drone commands, and assessing airspace friendliness. With swIDch Pilot ID, pilots access their drone systems securely, harmonizing top-tier security and convenience.