Updated: 8/6/14

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This post has five pictures in it. So when my editor asks, can we all agree to tell him this post was 5000 words long?

Thanks.

I knew I could count on you.

Anyway, here are four infographics that can help one visualize all the moving parts of the burgeoning commercial drone industry.

The Timeline – CyPhy founder Helen Greiner uses this image to explain how she envisions the adoption of drone technology finding its way into new applications in the coming years.

The Players – This chart is a top down look at the key players shaping the world of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).

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The Rules – Here are two examples of government rules for UAS. The first is is the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority‘s bare-bones user’s guide to UAS. The second is the FAA’s proposed rules for governing model aircraft.

While the former has much more weight than the latter, following these guidelines could help you avoid any unpleasantries from your local law enforcement when you fly.

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The Buyers Guide– Now that you know the rules (such as they are) and you are ready to buy, here are some things to consider:

Courtesy of DronesDen

General Info – This infographic from instantcheckmate.com provides a quick overview of the history of drones and the trajectory of their use froma traditional point of view.