Headline
An artists impression of a drone in action via remote control
results for a fraction of the cost .
“ It may cost $ 2,000 an hour to rent a helicopter ,” he said . “ Our costs for sending a couple of operators out with a system is under $ 200 an hour ,” says Mike Hutt who heads UAV projects for the U . S . Geological Survey .
According to British Columbia ’ s Accuas Inc ., drones will eventually become the future of mining operations . “ I would say starting a year ago , there ’ s been a really big push on UAVs ,” said Scott McTavish , the president of Accuas . “ I think it ’ s going to continue to grow .”
“ It ’ s much cheaper technology , much higher mobility , because you can carry the equipment in a suitcase ,” he said . “ You ’ re much more flexible .” Buddy Doyle , who first started following UAV technology in the mid 80s , says the low cost of drones will be the major selling point .
“ The idea is to be an airborne data collector , best and leastexpensive , and that ’ s what we ’ re doing ,” said Doyle . “ The biggest hurdle , I would say , is regulatory .”
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