Unmanned aircraft, often called drones, are used on the battlefield for surveillance, to drop missiles and to otherwise wreak havoc on enemies, which is why the term “drone” sometimes has a negative connotation.

Then there are concerns over privacy in our own outdoor spaces as well as safety, but drones — or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as the industry prefers to call them — can be an effective tool for businesses of all kinds when used responsibly.

Specifically in the equipment and construction rental industry, UAVs can be utilized for aerial video of event site setups, surveying, 3D mapping and inspection.

For example, during an on-site survey for an event, the first things to look for are obvious hazards, such as power lines, trees, water, low spots and mud. That takes time, as does measuring the site, figuring out where the power is as well as parking lots, generator placement spots and a host of other things. However, all of these tasks can be done using a UAV.

UAVs for all types of applications already are in existence, and chances are, if you can think of a use for a UAV, somebody already has figured it out.

Aircraft of all kinds are available on the market — with price points as low as $300 — and even more powerful than the UAVs themselves is the software that has been built to integrate with them.

DroneDeploy and Pix4D, for instance, are built to work with the most popular UAVs on the market. With a simple, tablet-based interface, you can deploy your drone to take pictures and synthesize them into a 3D map. Those maps come complete with true-to-scale measurements as well, which could save you a lot of time and repeat site visits.

Maybe your needs are as simple as taking aerial photos or videos of your event setups for marketing purposes. That can be done too, probably with an aircraft that’s less than $1,000.

Need to inspect your tent tie-downs, barrel or concrete block placement? Drones can be used for that as well. Fly your entire site in just a matter of minutes, hover just above each inspection area and take 4K video or hi-resolution stills.

For construction, imagine being able to rent out a crane, along with a 3D map of the customer’s job site?

What if they simply want weekly or monthly pictures of their structure as it is being built, or even shots of the crane as it is being lifted? These things are all possible with low-cost UAVs and the right regulatory permissions.

There is potential — given the right insurance framework — for you to rent low- or high-end UAVs to your clients along with other equipment. When you simply need better pictures of your rental fleet for your website, you also now have the right tool available on the lot.

To find the right technology for your rental business, you must first identify how the UAVs will be used and the type of aircraft that best suits those needs.

There are three generally accepted categories of UAVs — free-flying rotorcraft, free-flying fixed-wing and tethered. The UAVs most often seen today are the free-flying rotorcraft type, and feature between one and eight motors per aircraft.

The most popular within this category are the quadcopters — which feature four rotors spanning out from the center of the aircraft.

This is a stable type of aircraft and offers more redundancy over the single-engine type of UAV if an engine were to go out.

The benefits of the free-flying rotorcraft are the ability to takeoff vertically from a fixed point, hover without moving and land vertically.

With the fixed-wing variety, which are more like a small plane, you trade the ability to take off and land vertically for longer flight distances, a lighter aircraft and less power consumption since the wings do most of the work.

Some drones have a single remote control while others might offer a two-remote system that allows one person to fly the aircraft while the other controls the camera.

Most products feature an auto return-to-home capability when the signal or battery power is lost, on-board GPS-driven autopilots, 20 to 25 minutes per battery flight times and ground-sensing radar to avoid hard landings.

The tethered option is a drone that is attached to the ground. This can provide aerial shots while constant power is provided up through the tether with a video downlink through the same line. That means no more switching batteries out every 20 to 40 minutes, and a direct and high-quality video signal.

Contrary to common sense, tethered models tend to be significantly more expensive than free-flyers, due to the amount of technology needed to cram power up through a very thin leash and make it light enough that the UAV can lift up to 200 or 300 ft. Manufacturers of tethered drones offer a variety of products that can be built for the specific needs of different types of industries.

As you step into the higher-end models, you will be paying more money, but may not always get more useful or reliable products, so understanding the needs of your rental customers as well as your own is a must to choose the right products to get the best results.

Many of these models — from free-flyers to tethered — also can fly various types of sensors on-board, including FLIR/thermal cameras, LIDAR units and air-sniffing devices, most available from third-party vendors at significant cost.

UAVs are getting smaller, faster and better at performing dozens of job-site tasks, and they are incredibly fun to fly.

The laws are changing to eventually make commercial use of UAVs easier and, in the meantime, there are legal pathways to operate your aircraft or to hire an authorized drone company to perform these services for you.

The most important thing always is to remember that drones are not toys and they should be operated in a safe and deliberate manner, in a way that doesn’t impact the safety of aircraft in the air and people on the ground.

Are drones really legal?

The short answer to the question, “Are drones legal?” is, “Yes,” but it’s a much longer story than that.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for commercial use is prohibited, but it
can still be done legally, using legal exemption from Section 333 of the Aviation Modernization Act of 2012, which requires certificates of  airworthiness for aircraft.

To apply for a 333 exemption, a company must submit, in writing, a document outlining its proposed use of UAVs, safety procedures, type of aircraft and a self-certification of the aircraft’s airworthiness to the public docket at regulations.gov.

Once an exemption is granted — typically in about three to four months — the commercial user is authorized to fly using the approved aircraft and a certified pilot, under specific conditions.

That means to fly under a 333, you need to have a licensed pilot with you at all times. That person may be licensed simply as a sport or recreation pilot — they do not need a commercial pilot’s certificate — but you need someone who has been vetted by the FAA and passed a pilot exam.

If you have all of that in place, you can operate under the included “Blanket Certificate of Authorization,” which allows for low-risk flights during the day, within visual line of sight of the operator, outside of five miles from an airport and under 200 ft. above ground.

Uses outside of those requirements are permitted, but you will need to file for a special Certificate of Authorization to get approval and that can take four to six weeks to come through.

There are many 333-exempt agencies around the country who can provide drone services for you and plans are in the works to change this process.

The FAA is working on a regulatory framework known as “the small rule,” which will allow for commercial use of small UAVs that weigh under 55 lbs. in certain conditions. Those conditions include daylight operation only, within visual line-of-sight of the operator, under 500 ft. above ground level and outside of five miles from a major airport.

If you’re close to a non-towered airport that has instrument flight approaches, you’re permitted to fly no closer than three miles; and for private or small airports with no instrument approaches and heliports, no closer than two miles.

If the proposed rule becomes final, you only will need a commercial drone operator’s certificate to fly a drone for commercial purposes.

The FAA hopes this final rule will be in place by the summer of 2016. If you are a hobbyist, the use of drones is permitted for UAVs smaller than 55 lbs. as long as you’re not getting paid for your services.

There are many companies that claim they are not selling drone services, but selling their expertise in drones and just “throwing in the flight for free.”

Other commercial UAV users are “clocking out” before they take off, fly as an unpaid volunteer and then clock back in. This may or may not be legal and any fines levied by the FAA for drone users have been done under the heading of “reckless flying.” The FAA usually will send a letter explaining proper UAV use and asking that you not do whatever you did. If someone persists, then a fine will be imposed.

Matt Sloane is CEO of Atlanta Drone Consultants/Skyfire Consulting, Decatur, Ga., a business focused on helping public safety agencies incorporate unmanned aerial vehicles into their departments for emergency use. He is scheduled to lead the seminar, “To Drone or Not to Drone” scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, as part of the Events & Tents workshop at the Georgia World Congress Center. For more information about Sloane and his company, call 404-220-9308 or visit atldrone.com.