A range of promising applications are adding to the rapidly growing research and economic potential of drones (N. C. Coops et al. Nature 572, 433–435; 2019).

For example, drones are moving into GPS-denied indoor environments. They use advanced software that allows simultaneous localization and mapping, extremely lightweight sensors, and electronics and swarm topologies. Coverage of ever-larger mapping areas is now possible using hybrid drones, which combine the strengths of fixed-wing and multi-rotor drones. And drones with sophisticated on-board units for processing imagery and other sensor data can even select flight paths and mapping strategies without operator input.

A fusion of drone technology and robotics is spawning aircraft with actuator arms that can place sensors on an object’s surface, manipulate valves or similar mechanical devices, and carry out limited repairs of infrastructure. Tethered drones with a continuous power supply facilitate such repairs, or can be turned into cleaning robots with an air or water hose.