Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), those gadflies of airborne technology, are poised to sweep into our day-to-day lives. Does this take you by surprise? Like the lawn needing mowing (again), or your kid suddenly old enough for college, a swarm of drone innovations seems to have arrived almost overnight. But as business tycoon Warren Buffet once noted, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Where drones are concerned, the tree has been planted, and we’re moseying—some might argue sprinting—toward that shade. Here’s what’s been happening while your back was turned.

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