The Rise of Drones

A few years ago, drones were expensive toys that only a few people owned. Today, these small flying machines have become powerful tools used in many different fields. A drone is controlled from the ground and can carry a camera high into the sky. Photographers were among the first to see the value of drones. From above, a drone can capture amazing views of mountains, beaches, and cities that a person on the ground could never reach. Film companies now use them instead of expensive helicopters. Drones are useful far beyond photography. Farmers fly them over their fields to check which plants need water. Rescue teams send drones to search for lost hikers in dangerous areas. In some countries, companies are testing drones that deliver medicine to villages with poor roads. However, the growing number of drones has raised concerns. People worry about their privacy when a camera can fly over their garden. There is also a risk that a drone could crash into an aeroplane. For this reason, many governments now have strict rules about where and how high drones may fly.