Thai drone sales see surge

Drones have become one of the fastestgrowing electronic gadgets as the unmanned aerial vehicles become cheaper and easier to use, says a global drone maker.

“The popularity of drones is mainly due to the sharp drop in prices, which have fallen to US$1,000 apiece from $10,000-20,000 in the past three to four years,” said Colin Guinn, chief revenue officer of 3D Robotics, a US-based drone manufacturer.

In addition, the weight of drones has declined significantly from 10 kilogrammes to 1.5kg.

The global drone market is expected to reach $3 billion in 2016, an expected increase of 100%, said Mr Guinn.

Drones have become increasingly popular among tourists and amateur photographers, especially in Southeast Asia which boasts much spectacular scenery.

3D Robotics has already established its presence in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

“We expect revenue from Southeast Asia to account for 20% of our combined global revenue this year,” said Mr Guinn, adding that Thailand would contribute up to 25% of revenue from the region.

3D Robotics rolled out its first Linux-based drone, the Solo quadcopter, touted as the first unmanned aerial vehicle to provide full control for GoPro cameras and deliver live-streaming HD video to mobile devices.

The GoPro App makes it easy to control the drone’s camera remotely, view photos and videos, and share favourites.

The Linux computer enables greater autonomy and ease of use than earlier models. The Solo can automatically takeoff, return home and land, said Mr Guinn.

Drones are already widely used in agriculture, parcel delivery, construction, surveying and mapping. They are also used to deliver medical supplies in remote areas as well as collect blood samples.

Tanapol Tanamontol, brand manager of K Trading Co, the authorised distributor of 3D Robotics, said drones have high potential to grow in Thailand thanks to the substantial number of photos posted on social media in Thailand.

Thailand’s drone market is expected to reach 500 million baht this year, up from 300 million in 2015.

Mr Tanapol said Solo drones will be available at Jaymart shops, Drone Station outlets, Gizman Talk About IT and i-Service, through its dealers. Prices of Solo drones start from 29,999 baht apiece.