DRONES AREN ’ T
ONLY FOR
EXPLORATION AND FILM SHOOTS ANYMORE .
HP 3D printers can create custom parts for Avular
Vertex drones , above . Previous pages ; A Vertex drone with an additional camera for industrial inspections .
Largely used for aerial photography and filming , weather tracking , and recreational activities , these remote-controlled , pilotless vehicles are now being deployed as helpers , delivering critical supplies ,
enforcing COVID-19 stay-at-home orders ,
stringing power lines , and even walking dogs . With so many possible uses , the nimble machines will become in-flight fixtures in our daily lives in the not-so-distant future , zipping across our skies headed for their next task .
As
new regulations are introduced to
address security concerns , the global drone market is expected to
surge from $ 22 billion in 2020 to $ 43 billion by 2025 , spurred partly by COVID-19 restrictions on human activity and leaps in technical advances .
“ Drones are a strategic and superfast-growing space , so companies are trying to carve out their own competitive advantage ,” says David Woodlock , application development and design man a ger at HP where industrial 3D printing technologies are being used to produce strong , lightweight components that can fast-track production , keep costs down , and customize drone companies ’ products .
Here ’ s a look at four drone companies that are helping redefine what ’ s possible .
AV U L A R
3D-printing building blocks for custom applications
The Netherlands-based company
Avular , founded in 2014 , originally built drones for industrial and agricultural uses , such as inspecting hazardous areas or agricultural
PREVIOUS SPREAD : PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF AVULAR . THIS PAGE : PHOTOGRAPHS BY TRISTAN COPLEY , TOP ; COURTESY OF AVULAR , LEFT
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