Intel Corp (INTC)

[flumoxed2012]

Drones have a lot of space to grow into. The amazon fantasy of drone delivery is a nightmarish scenario that probably won't play out (I hope).

But consider civil applications: Regular drone recon of large construction projects, and maintenance; drone safety surveys of bridges, highways, railroads, pipelines, power lines, windmills; police applications: traffic reports, criminal surveilance, handing out speeding tickets, eliminating dangerous highspeed chases, searching out drug operations, border patrol, marine surveillance, compliance inspections; There are many forestry and agricultural applications, land survey, crop evaluation and disease treatment (crop dusting). Sports stadiums, rock concerts, large outdoor events, parades, etc., will feature multiple drone born cameras (these will be drones that look and feel more like beachballs and won't hurt a human in case of collision). There is real opportunity here for 3d printers to design and optimize drone components. The designers haven't begun to reshape these things yet..future Macy's parades will have drone-floats.

Then, there's the military. In WWII the role of (1) torpedos delivered by sub or destroyer and (2) air bombing, emerged as the superior methods in naval combat (see "Neptune's Inferno" by Hornfischer). IMO the drone will outclass this (I include submarine drones here). A small drone could effectively deliver a small nuke and render an aircraft carrier group null. The drones have and will continue to radically change military tactics and strategy. This is another reason that I find the arguments about Intel "failing in mobile" to be stupidity incarnate. Intel is here to stay as long as we have a modern military. The military applications of drones cum robotics are unlimited, surreal, and beyond belief.

I fear that drones will become invasive, but so too are smartphones which allow the cops to watch your every move, and stuff like linkedin (far worse than facebook IMO). heck, I find those bright illuminated billboards on I-80 between SF and Sacramento to be invasive. More reliable, silent and efficient drones will be there, and there is big $$ to be made. You shouldn't approach this with your small minds.