Apart from what they do for the military ; drones have already proven themselves capable sheep herders , delivery boys , tour guides , filmmakers , archaeologists , and -- possibly -- spies . The global economic potential of these machines is astounding ; a recent study estimated the worldwide market for unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAVs ) at $ 89 billion in 2013 . Proponents are eager to point out the many ways they 're going to make our lives better . `` Really , this technology is an extra tool to help an industry be more effective , '' says Gretchen West , the executive vice president for the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International ( AUVSI ) . `` With precision agriculture , for example , it can take pictures of fields so farmers can identify problems they would n't necessarily see walking through the fields . In law enforcement , you could find a child lost in the woods more easily than walking through a field , particularly if there 's bad weather or treacherous ground . '' While it may seem that drones are set to take over our lives , the reality is a bit more complicated . Drone usage around the world is definitely picking up in the public sector , but when it comes to commercial activity , many countries have strict limitations . Opinion : Bad laws could hurt good drones . The United States does n't allow for commercial drone usage at all , though that 's expected to change in 2015 , when the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) aims to put a plan in place to integrate drones in U.S. airspace . In the meantime , says West , the U.S. is losing $ 10 billion in potential economic impact for every year the FAA delays . `` I think the U.S. has been the leader in this technology , and I think there 's a risk of losing that first-mover aspect the longer we wait on regulations , '' she says . `` A lot of countries are allowing for flight , and that puts us at a disadvantage . We 're seeing U.S. manufacturers realize they 're developing great products they ca n't use here , and they 're looking to overseas to fulfill their business model . '' Currently , civilian drone use in the U.S. is only sanctioned in a handful of incidents , namely in the public sector , as research or as a hobby , though the latter dictates they do n't fly above 400 feet , near populated areas or outside of the operator 's line of vision . While this means that ostensibly , non-military manufactures are restricted to making hobby models , most of these can take on commercial applications . `` We 're amazed at the uses that pop up , '' says Sue Rosenstock , a spokesperson at 3D Robotics -- an American manufacturer of hobbyists UAVs . In addition to catering to enthusiasts locally , Rosenstock estimates that half their business is done overseas in countries with fewer restrictions . One of the most open countries , she notes , is Australia . The Outback recently made headlines when Australian start-ups Zookal and Flirtey announced they would team up to provide textbook deliveries via drones by next year . Read more : How robots learn from insects . `` We see them as a wonderful example of the power of legislation to free up this emerging technology , '' says Rosenstock . Despite the infancy of the industry , many lawmakers fear the potential invasion of privacy that drones portend . Nine U.S. states have already passed laws restricting drone use , both in the hands of private citizens and law enforcement agencies . `` Drones make surveillance cheaper and easier , and when you do that , you can expect to see a lot more of it , '' warns Ryan Calo , a law professor at the University of Washington School of Law and an affiliate scholar at the Stanford Law School Center for Internet Society . While Calo argues that the ease with which the government can spy on us `` should be a concern '' , he also says that drones could be useful in starting a long overdue conversation about privacy law . `` Privacy law has lagged behind surveillance technology for years , and it probably has to do with the fact that citizens ca n't envision what the problem is , but they can picture what drone surveillance would feel like , '' he says . As a result , he argues , drones `` could be a catalyst for better privacy law . ''
Though drones have incredible commercial potential , most countries restrict its use . The Flirtey is expected to open up drones for commercial use by yearly . Drone estimates the U.S. loses $ 89 billion 2015 by delaying drone integration . Though drones bring up privacy concerns , some argue it could advance privacy law .