By Geoffrey Lord

Regis Jesuit High School (Denver, Colorado)

In recent history, drones have either been perceived as beneficial to society or a questionable tool utilized under a cloak of war. Currently, drones are being used in a multitude of war arenas, but also off the battlefield.  For example, farmers take advantage of the drone’s size and mobility to fertilize crops.  Photographers use this technology to gain a new perspective on life and the subjects they are capturing.  Architects and builders also see the utility in the drone because it allows them to get a bird’s eye view of a particular plot or landscape and map out, specifically, the topographical challenges and build better blueprints for projects.

However, drones can also be viewed as a negative tool when applied to drone warfare because in the eyes of some they remove the humanity piece and have a machine do the “dirty” work.  Sadly, many times this “work” involves airstrikes that take the lives of both enemies and innocent civilians.  Although drones have, in the past, been fraught with errors resulting in a greater loss of innocent life, the technology has advanced in recent years and is now much more precise.  As a result, drone error, according to the New American Foundation, has dropped 60% over the past 10 years, proving both its efficiency and increased safety when used as a tool of warfare.

Because drone technology is still relatively new in its use both on and off the battlefield, opinions still vary as to its efficacy and appropriateness. However, because advances in both the accuracy and safety are occurring at a rapid pace, drones will very likely continue to find a place in modern society.