The use of drones has been spreading in Japan.
Construction machinery makers use the unmanned aerial devices to measure construction sites.
Movie production firms use them for aerial photography. And security companies have been working to develop patrol drones.
US online retail giant Amazon is considering introducing a delivery service using drones in Japan. Pizza delivery businesses are testing a similar service.
Private research firm Seed Planning expects the Japanese market for drones and related services to grow about 16 fold, to around 560-million dollars, in 2020 from roughly 34-million dollars posted last year.
Japan’s government has revised the civil aviation law to restrict the use of drones, mainly in densely populated places, areas around airports and event venues.
This came after a drone was discovered on the roof of the prime minister’s office in April of last year. Weeks later, another drone fell during an event at a temple in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan.
But challenges remain despite the new rules. Concerns include ensuring public safety once drone delivery services go into full swing and how to deal with terrorist uses of the devices.
Source and image: NHK
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