Unmanned aircraft taking off

In fits and kicks, with each passing year technological innovations continue to change the way people live, work, recreate and perceive the world.

Many of these changes can go unnoticed by the average consumer, like a slightly longer-lasting battery or the stapleless tea bag. Other technologies that have today become virtually indispensable only a few decades ago were conceivable only in the realm of science fiction.

Smartphones are one such example, transforming the way Americans communicate by uniting the telephone with the computer processor, the camera, and most anything one can program an app to accomplish.

Another exciting technology is only just getting off the ground, so to speak. Unmanned aircraft systems-UAS, or "drones"-have been moving beyond their original military applications into the consumer market.

As part of the workshops for this year's Bearfest, Robert Johnson of RE Johnson Photography demonstrated some of the technology's abilities before a curious group at the Nolan Center. Though he has been using remote-controlled aircraft for his photography for some time, Johnson explained he has lately been making use of the propeller-driven variety. Wrangellites may have spotted his DJI model craft hovering over the logging show at this year's July Fourth celebration.

His craft is remotely controlled by a touchscreen pad, and has a camera built-in and mounted on a gimbal. It can fly up to 50 miles per hour and, depending on conditions, has a battery life of better than 20 minutes.

Unmanned aircraft such as his are becoming more common. Data collected by market analysts KPCB indicate consumer drone sales have increased more than eightfold since 2013 and estimate that this year some 3.4 million units will be sold worldwide for a market share worth $1.7 billion.

The fledgling UAS industry has soared domestically, despite a legal inability in the United States to operate such systems for commercial purposes.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates American airspace, has been keeping a tight lid on private drone use while it devises regulations. Safety and privacy concerns as well as regulatory challenges have made adoption of a policy slow-going. There are currently just two methods of gaining FAA authorization to fly civilian drones available.

Only earlier this month in Virginia, a UAS manufacturer conducted the first federally-approved delivery in the country after a drone produced by Flirtey, an Australian firm, delivered medical supplies to a rural health clinic.

Enthusiasts and supporters of the technology suggest drones will eventually transfigure the social landscape to come, with light, inexpensive vehicles making various deliveries for businesses, herding livestock, spotting fish and making movies.

In a 2013 report put out by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, it was estimated UAS integration could be bringing $19 million to Alaska between 2015 and 2017 and create 95 new jobs. Over the next decade it estimates $112 million in potential earnings for the state. The report projects even bigger potential for the country as a whole, forecasting an $82 billion impact and 103,000 new jobs over the coming decade.

The association foresees drones as primarily useful in agriculture, followed by public safety in a distant second.

Within certain limits, hobbyists can presently operate drones. Pilots are advised by the FAA to fly their weight-restricted models below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles. They are supposed to keep the aircraft within visual line of sight at all times and remain clear of manned aircraft operations.

Drones are not allowed to fly within 5 miles of an airport unless it and its control tower have been contacted before flying. Reckless pilots could be fined for endangering people or other aircraft.

"I think people should just be considerate about where they fly," Johnson commented. "These things aren't toys. You really do need to be careful with them."

However, he feels the current regulatory atmosphere is unnecessarily stringent. Johnson also believes concerns about privacy have been overblown.

"These are not stealth machines," he said. Demonstrating in the Nolan Center, even indoors the propellers did indeed sound like a commercial-sized fan, and Johnson explained it can be even louder in gusts. "These things are noisy."

They can also be expensive, with a first-rate model going for around $4,000. UAS can also be tricky to use if a person is unfamiliar with the features, and mistakes can be costly as well as dangerous.

Johnson recommends practicing with a lighter, cheaper model first, such as a foam-padded Air Hogs model that might sell for $60.

"If you're able to fly those around your house, you're good to go with one of these."