International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 8 Issue 4, Jul-Aug 2024 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Drones in Manufacturing
Matthew N. O. Sadiku1, Paul A. Adekunte2, Janet O. Sadiku3
1
Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA
2
International Institute of Professional Security, Lagos, Nigeria
3
Juliana King University, Houston, TX, USA

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Matthew N. O.

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are rapidly Sadiku | Paul A. Adekunte | Janet O.
taking the world by storm, and their impact on manufacturing is Sadiku "Drones in Manufacturing"
significant. They are generally unmanned aerial vehicles. They can Published in
International
navigate treacherous terrain, gather critical data, and perform
Journal of Trend in
assessments without risking human lives. In the world of rapidly Scientific Research
evolving technology, drone manufacturing stands out as a field and Development
combining innovation with precision. From agriculture to (ijtsrd), ISSN:
construction, logistics to environmental conservation, drones have 2456-6470, IJTSRD68301
found their way into diverse sectors. This paper delves into the Volume-8 | Issue-4,
applications, benefits, and challenges of drones in the manufacturing August 2024, pp.1085-1090, URL:
sector. www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd68301.pdf

KEYWORDS: drones, unmanned aircrafts, unmanned aerial vehicles Copyright © 2024 by author (s) and
(UAVs), manufacturing International Journal of Trend in
Scientific Research and Development
Journal. This is an
Open Access article
distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

INTRODUCTION
Drones, once known as outdoor toys for kids and cannot, such as in dangerous environments and
teenagers, turned out to have immense potential to difficult to access areas. The prohibition on beyond
transform various industries. This is due to their visual line of sight operations has also been lifted for
ability to reach difficult or dangerous areas for drones that weigh more than five kilograms. This
humans or traditional machinery to access. They have allows bigger drones, ideal for commercial and
made impressive strides in various industries, with industrial applications, to be used more consistently
applications ranging from aerial photography to in manufacturing. Drones can also aid manufacturers
environmental monitoring. Drones embedded in increasing compliance by recording temperature
themselves as a crucial technology in Industry 4.0, checks, production line observations and faults from
offering a range of benefits for industries such as the drone images.
manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture. They have WHAT IS A DRONE?
quickly become indispensable tools in the The FAA defines drones, also known as unmanned
manufacturing industry and are revolutionizing the
aerial vehicles (UAVs), as any aircraft system without
way manufacturing facilities operate. Their
a flight crew onboard. Drones include flying, floating,
integration into the manufacturing industry offers and other devices, including unmanned aerial vehicles
immense potential for improving efficiency, safety,
(UAVs), that can fly independently along set routes
and cost savings.
using an onboard computer or follow commands
Drones generally are unmanned aerial vehicles, with transmitted remotely by a pilot on the ground. A
nobody on board, and the pilot is controlling the craft typical drone is shown in Figure 1 [1]. Drones can
from the ground. They are far from being just fancy range in size from large military drones to smaller
flying cameras. They have been used for all kinds of drones. Drones, previously used for military
purposes. Their sophisticated technology allows them purposes, have started to be used for civilian purposes
to obtain and record information where humans since the 2000s. Since then, drones have continued to

@ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD68301 | Volume – 8 | Issue – 4 | Jul-Aug 2024 Page 1085
 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
be used in intelligence, aerial surveillance, search and manufacturing, including quality control, inventory
rescue, reconnaissance, and offensive missions as part management, and safety inspections. Drones are
of the military Internet of things (IoT). Today, drones undoubtedly a game-changer for the manufacturing
are used for different purposes such as aerial industry. Common applications of drones in
photography, surveillance, agriculture, entertainment, manufacturing include the following [1,4]:
healthcare, transportation, law enforcement, etc.
 Factory Surveillance and Maintenance: One of
Drones work much like other modes of air the most promising applications of drones is their
transportation, such as helicopters and airplanes. use in factory surveillance and maintenance. This
When the engine is turned on, it starts up, and the allows for remote inspection capabilities and
propellers rotate to enable flight. The motors spin the offers a cost-effective solution that enhances
propellers and the propellers push against the air safety while increasing productivity. Integrating
molecules downward, which pulls the drone upwards. drones into factory operations has the potential to
Once the drone is flying, it is able to move forward, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance
back, left, and right by spinning each of the propellers safety measures in infrastructure management.
at a different speed. Then, the pilot uses the remote Drones can be equipped with high-resolution
control to direct its flight from the ground [2], cameras and sensors to monitor machinery and
Drone laws exist to ensure a high level of safety in detect potential problems before they become
the skies, especially near sensitive areas like airports. major. They can inspect equipment without
They also aim to address privacy concerns that arise disrupting operations, providing a more accurate
when camera drones fly in residential areas. These assessment of the situation while ensuring worker
include the requirement to keep your drone within safety. They can also inspect hard-to-reach areas,
sight at all times when airborne. In the United States, such as tall chimneys, roofs, or narrow tunnels
where human intervention is difficult or
drones weighing less than 250g are exempt from
dangerous.
registration with civil aviation authorities. If your
drone exceeds 250g in weight, you will also require a  Inventory Management: Drones can potentially
Flyer ID, which requires passing a test [3]. It is transform the supply chain and inventory
necessary to register as an operator, be trained as a management in manufacturing facilities. By using
pilot, and have civil liability insurance, in addition to RFID technology, drones can perform swift and
complying with various flight regulations, and those accurate inventory counts in warehouses,
of the places where their use is permitted. significantly reducing time and labor costs
associated with manual stocktaking.
Most drones have a limited payload, usually under 11
pounds. Drones are classified according to their size.  Improving Quality Control: Manufacturers can
Here are the different drone types: enhance their quality control processes by
 Nano Drone: 80-100 mm employing drones to monitor production lines
 Micro Drone: 100-150 mm continuously. This proactive approach to quality
 Small Drone: 150-250 mm control can result in fewer product returns and
 Medium Drone: 250-400 mm improved customer satisfaction.
 Large Drone: 400+ mm  Inventory Management: Drones automate
One of the emerging trends in drone use for factories stocktaking processes by flying through storage
is the utilization of LiDAR technology. LiDAR stands areas and warehouses to scan barcodes and QR
for Light Detection and Ranging. This technology codes on items for accurate inventory checks.
provides accurate depth information essential for This technology significantly reduces the time
understanding the three-dimensional structure of the and labor required for manual inventory checks.
environment. LiDAR sensors emit laser beams to  Inspection and Maintenance: Drones are
measure distances to objects, creating high-resolution equipped with cameras and sensors can capture
3D maps of the surrounding terrain and objects. The high-resolution images and data, allowing for
ability to capture detailed data through LiDAR more detailed inspections of large and complex
technology has opened up opportunities for better infrastructures such as bridges, wind turbines, and
predictive maintenance, reduction in inspection times, oil rigs. These inspections can be performed
and overall cost savings [4]. remotely, reducing the risk of injury to workers
APPLICATIONS and increasing safety. Transporting parts between
A drone in the manufacturing environment is shown different areas of a manufacturing plant or
in Figure 2 [1]. Drones have many applications in warehouse can also be unnecessarily time-

@ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD68301 | Volume – 8 | Issue – 4 | Jul-Aug 2024 Page 1086
 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
consuming. Drones can transport parts weighing drones cost-effectively is essential to making the
up to five kilograms and fly to warehouses to technology accessible and sustainable.
collect and deliver. Figure 3 shows drones are
 Safety: In addition to being cost-effective and
used for inspection and maintenance [5].
time-efficient, the use of unmanned aircraft in
 Automation: Drone technology represents a factories also reduces safety risks by eliminating
revolutionary advancement in automation.There the need for workers to climb tall structures or
are several tasks that drones can automate in navigate hazardous areas.
warehouses and production lines. Someone with
 Detecting Anomalies: Through machine learning
little to no experience flying a drone can use the
techniques, drones equipped with AI can detect
automation technology that accompanies the
anomalies that may indicate structural damage or
drone to carry out the flight mission. Using
wear-and-tear faster than a human inspector could
drones can relieve human staff from potentially
ever do so manually. This includes monitoring
dangerous jobs like retrieving products from tall
changes over time that can highlight potential
racking, troubleshooting dangerous equipment
issues before they become major problems.
during work stoppages, and responding to spills.
 Accuracy: Accuracy in drone manufacturing is
 Delivery: Drones can quickly deliver goods to
paramount, as it directly impacts the performance,
customers. The journey of a product – from
safety, and reliability of aerial vehicles. Precision
manufacturing, to delivery, to the customer –
in crafting each component ensures that the drone
involves many steps. Many organizations
operates as intended, maintaining stability and
integrate delivery drones into their assets to
efficiency in flight. This accuracy is crucial for
address this very problem. Figure 4 shows some
components like propellers and motors, where
typical delivery drones [6].
even minor imbalances can lead to flight
 3D Printing Drones: Also known as additive instability or mechanical failures.
manufacturing, 3D printing is revolutionizing the
 Collaboration: A worker doing a complex task
drone manufacturing industry by enabling the
may need support from a supervisor or team
creation of complex geometries and custom
member elsewhere. A drone can help facilitate
designs that were previously difficult or
communication between these two parties by
impossible to achieve with traditional
letting them see and talk to each other.
manufacturing methods. This process involves
layer-by-layer fabrication of parts directly from CHALLENGES
digital models, offering several key advantages. It In spite of the many benefits of incorporating drones
allows designers and engineers to quickly produce into manufacturing, there are challenges that
and test prototypes. A 3D printing drone is shown companies must address to ensure the successful
in Figure 5 [7]. implementation of this technology. Keeping pace
with rapid technological changes is a significant
BENEFITS
challenge. The main problem of flying drones in a
Drones offer unparalleled benefits for companies in
factory is their malfunctioning and crashing. Like
the manufacturing sector, revolutionizing the way
every technical device, drones sometimes fail and fall
forward in areas like surveillance, maintenance, and
to the ground. The greatest concern is if it falls on a
workflow efficiency. They can help companies save
worker. Other challenges include the following [4]:
time and money, and increase compliance.
 Privacy: Drones can capture images and videos of
A notable advantage of using drones in industrial
sensitive information, leading to privacy concerns
settings is their ability to access hard-to-reach or
for employees and the company.
dangerous areas. Drones are sophisticated pieces of
technology that can collect and record data humans  Legal Regulations: Companies must adhere to
cannot.Other benefits of using drones in local and federal regulations regarding drone
manufacturing include the following: usage. Strict compliance with these regulations is
critical in maintaining safety, security, and
 Efficiency: Efficiency and cost-saving measures
responsible drone operation.
are at the heart of using drones in manufacturing.
Integrating drones in manufacturing adds a new  Cybersecurity: As drones rely on wireless
standard of automation and efficiency. By communication and data sharing, addressing
utilizing drones, manufacturers can reduce the cybersecurity concerns must be a top priority for
risk of workplace accidents, enhance overall manufacturers to protect their sensitive
safety, and improve productivity. Manufacturing information and maintain secure operations.

@ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD68301 | Volume – 8 | Issue – 4 | Jul-Aug 2024 Page 1087
 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
 Training and Skills Development: Proper drone add labor cost to the drone when you use it and
operation and maintenance training is essential for that makes it quite a bit more expensive. By using
companies to maximize the benefits of autonomous drones or incorporating advanced
incorporating this technology into their processes. drone solutions into operations, companies can
 Regulation: Most countries are now grappling reduce the need for human experts and cost.
with regulatory issues related to drones, as using The challenges of drone manufacturing are
drones has implications for public safety. significant, but with the right expertise and
Regulation plays a critical role in shaping the technology, they can be effectively addressed.
future of drone use in manufacturing since drones
CONCLUSION
operate in a regulatory environment. As the use of
It is evident that drones will continue to play a
drones in manufacturing continues to grow,
significant role in shaping the future of
regulations and policies must be implemented to
manufacturing. It is never too late to start
ensure safety, security, privacy, and responsible
incorporating drones into your business.
use. Adhering to local and federal regulations is
becoming a pivotal concern for drone The biggest obstacle, apart from certification and
manufacturers. Effective regulation will ensure regulations, is that certain factories, facilities, and
the safe integration of drones into our assembly plants may be too complex or hazardous for
manufacturing systems. Regulators are charged drones. Although there are still some limitations to
with thoroughly evaluating the implications of commercial drone operation, including high initial
new drones uses, including potential safety issues, costs or consistent and transparent regulations, the
before they reach the market. In the United States, future of drones in manufacturing looks promising, as
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has they are becoming increasingly popular for their
implemented rules for commercial drone use, ability to inspect and monitor structures and processes
such as requiring pilots to obtain a remote pilot with greater efficiency and accuracy than traditional
certificate and limiting altitude and speed means.
restrictions. REFERENCES
 Interoperability: Manufacturing sites often use a [1] “Transforming operations with drones: 10
diverse range of machines, equipment, and smart drone applications in manufacturing,”
production systems, leading to issues with March 2024, https://dac.digital/drone-
interoperability and the integration of new applications-in-manufacturing/
technologies. It is essential to establish a [2] “How drones work and how to fly them,” May
standardized ecosystem for seamless connectivity 2024,
between various systems beforehand. https://dronelaunchacademy.com/resources/ho
 Quality Control: Ensuring high quality and safety w-do-drones-work/
standards is paramount, given the potential risks [3] “What are the main applications of drones?”
associated with drone operation. For the June 2024,
successful implementation of AI drones, high- https://www.jouav.com/blog/applications-of-
quality, clean, and meaningful data is vital. Since drones.html
industrial settings can produce biased, outdated,
or error-filled data, ensuring that the data we use [4] “Drones in manufacturing: A game-changer for
to train the AI models is verified for quality is industry,” https://viper-
critical. drones.com/industries/infrastructure-drone-
use/manufacturing/#:~:text=The%20integration
 Supply Chain Management: Managing the supply %20of%20drones%20into,on%20manufacturin
chain efficiently is a challenge, especially with g%20is%20no%20exception.
the global nature of manufacturing. Issues like
sourcing materials, managing logistics, and [5] “Drones’ critical role in Industry 4.0,’
dealing with tariffs or trade restrictions can https://consortiq.com/uas-resources/drones-
significantly impact production costs and critical-role-in-industry-4-
timelines. 0#:~:text=Drones%20can%20quickly%20deliv
er%20goods,constant%20improvement%20and
 Cost: Another major problem is the cost of %20great%20efficiencies.
running the drone. This is pretty much a question
if you need a pilot, or if the drone runs [6] J. Marsh, “The developing role of drones in
autonomously. If you have a drone pilot, then you manufacturing,” August 2022.

@ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD68301 | Volume – 8 | Issue – 4 | Jul-Aug 2024 Page 1088
 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/story/2022/ 2022, https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/Penn-
08/the-developing-role-of-drones-in- Design-Engineering-3D-printing-build-repair-
manufacturing/19274/ while-flying
[7] “3D printing drones work like bees to build and
repair structures while flying,” September

Figure 1 A typical drone [1].

Figure 2 A drone in the manufacturing environment [1].

@ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD68301 | Volume – 8 | Issue – 4 | Jul-Aug 2024 Page 1089
 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470

Figure 3Drone is used for inspection and maintenance [5]

Figure 4Typical delivery drones [6].

Figure 5 A 3D printing drone [7].

@ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD68301 | Volume – 8 | Issue – 4 | Jul-Aug 2024 Page 1090