Drones-- Computer Science in our Everyday Lives

One of the most prominent and emerging breakthroughs in robotics during the 21st century has been drone technology. Drones, a subset of UAV's (unmanned aerial vehicles), use infra-red cameras, GPS technology, lasers, and state of the art computer software to be piloted from remote locations. Their use has infiltrated many aspects of our lives ranging from recreational, to cinematography, to military.

A military drone from the early 2000's

Drones work via remote control from an operator on the ground. The person controlling the drone uses joysticks and buttons to control the flight pattern, camera, and specific functionalities of the drone. Each one of these operations can be considered an input which the drone's program must decipher and determine an output. For example, if the operator moves the joy stick down and to the left, the drone must receive that signal and then read it to know that it must fly up and to the left. 

How military drones function

In recent years drones have come under fire for ethical reasons. People argue that that drones can be used to violate personal privacy and can also be considered a dangerous advancement in warfare. However, despite these concerns, drones have continued to be refined are are becoming more and more prominent in the commercial marketplace. While only time can tell the future of drones, it is safe to say that they are a prominent example of the influence of computer science in our lives.

Resources:

Pictures

• http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/media/images/48461000/gif/_48461757_how_drones_work_464.gif
• http://www.trbimg.com/img-5244b88a/turbine/la-na-nn-fbi-using-drones-2006-20130926

Resources

• https://www.dronezon.com/learn-about-drones-quadcopters/what-is-drone-technology-or-how-does-drone-technology-work/
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/04/18/drones-are-not-toys--theyre-dangerous-and-they-must-be-regulated/