Research Paper on Drones Over America

Introduction

Unmanned aircraft, otherwise known as drones have been a matter of discussion for a long time. Consequently, the debates are owed to the unknown variables that drones present. The following paper tries to argue that drones are a force for positive development than negative. In essence, therefore, the various advantages of using drones will be discussed as well as the disadvantages. In the same way, the various legal agendas on drones will be discussed in order to show that drones can be utilized for more positive development than negative life infringement.

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According to the Brookings paper on technology, there are about five legal requirements for the advancement of drones (Brookings, 2014). Discussing the legal requirements will allow for proper understanding and the presentation of advantages and disadvantages of drones over America.

One of the legal requirements proposed for launching unmanned aerial vehicles is that the proceedings should allow for strict adherence to property rights. In essence, there are some bi-laws that dictate drones be operated in areas outside private property. The distance given is about 350 feet above any private property area. The Brookings report puts it that the distance prevents any harm that might be caused by unmanned aircraft (Brookings, 2014). The second legal suggestion given is that unmanned aircraft should have strict time intervals set for surveillance purposes. The main aim of this legal suggestion is to allow for the surveillance be done only in moderation. The Brookings report puts it that the legal requirements for surveillance should be addressed to prevent excessive surveillance on particular individual (Brookings, 2014). In the same way the third legal consideration set on drones is that they should adopt proper protocols for presentation and retrieval of data collected from drones. Essentially, there should exist bodies that examine the data and release it to relevant bodies for assimilation. Data separation is necessary because different research institutes require only specific data for their use (Brookings, 2014). Another legal consideration given for the operation of drone is transparency. The organizations allowed to use drones should be responsible for disseminating the information they receive through relevant channels that can describe the importance and use of the data collected by both manned and unmanned aircrafts (Brookings, 2014). Consequently, the data will be useful for most decisions that the parties involved make. The most important people in such decisions would be farmers, conservationists and general government bodies interested in research data. Finally, drones are required to be recognized as better tools for geospatial surveillance than human labor (Brookings, 2014). The information collected by drones is observed to hold more volume and data than most human data collection methods. In this way, the legal requirement allows for the use and development of drones for research and human advancement purposes.

The above legal requirements are important for exploring the advantages and disadvantages of using drones. The first and most important advantage of using drones of unmanned aircrafts is that they are capable of performing tasks that are difficult for human beings. Essentially, the drones are easily operated for longer hours than human beings can operate on planes. Therefore, arduous and dangerous tasks can be carried out using drones (U.S Hearing, Serial No. J-113-10, 2013). Another major advantage given for the drones is that they have led to significant advancement of research endeavor, that is, they have led to better scientific experiments, agricultural research advancement, geological and geospatial surveying, energy pipeline maintenance as well various search and rescue operations (New America, 2015).

Conversely, apart from the advantages presented by the use of drones, there is a major disadvantage presented by most global parties opposed to the idea of using drones and that is, the infringement of privacy and constitutional rights. The constitution is meant to protect its people from exploitation and any kind of harm. For this reason, the use of drones poses a threat on the right to privacy that any citizen is expected to enjoy (U.S Hearing, Serial No. J-113-10, 2013). Drones are, therefore, observed to cause significant tension between the individuals vouching for their right to privacy and those that believe that they are a source and tool for further development.

Furthermore, apart from the legal requirements and implications-both negative and positive, of using drones, there are other ethical considerations given for the continual use of drones. Ethics dictates that the methods used for any advancement be in line with humanitarian considerations. One of the ethical considerations put forward is that unmanned aircrafts have the ability to enable high technologically advanced nations to move on less technologically advanced nations on the fact that they have no power to fight back using the same advanced means. Another ethical reason given for the use of drones is that they have the ability to reduce sensitivity to war. That is, drones have the ability to make war virtual. In essence, this reduces the ability to see the societal repercussions of war.

Conclusion

In conclusion, therefore, the exploration above shows that the issue of drones requires deeper exploration into its legal implications, advantages to society and the ethical considerations for its use. The policies set up using these guidelines will aid in ensuring that unmanned aircraft are used to advance society as a whole.

References

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/research/policycommission/remote-warfare/final

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Drones_Aerial_Surveillance_McNeal_FINAL.pdfreport-october2014.pdf

http://drones.newamerica.org/primer/DronesAndAerialObservation.pdfhttps://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-113shrg81775/pdf/CHRG-113shrg81775.pdf