A new report from Research and Markets  predicts the global market for civilian drones to experience a compound annual growth rate of 28 percent over the next four years.
Demand for civilian unmanned aerial systems for use in crop surveillance operations will drive market growth, the firm said Tuesday.
Risks of accidents posed by such drones to commercial aircraft and helicopters will present challenges to the market, according to the report.
The report indicates that there has been an increase in the adoption of civilian drones in film, aerial photography and other media applications since the industry secured approval from the Federal Aviation Administration in September 2014.
Other uses of civilian UAS cited in the report include natural disaster monitoring, search and rescue operations, cargo and relief package delivery and crisis mapping.
Companies mentioned in the report include:
- 3D Robotics
- Aeronautics
- Aerovironment
- Aeryon
- Aibotix
- Airware
- Aurora Flight Sciences
- Cybaero
- DJI
- Drone Deploy
- Ehang
- Parrot
- Precision Hawk
- Thales
- Trimble Navigation
- Walkera
- Xaircraft