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Hello, Nelson! My name is Raphael P., and I look forward to working with you on this Essay Center Review to improve your writing today. Let's get started!

*Writing Strength: 
You do well in organizing the different points of the discussion under clearly defined subject headings. This makes it easier for the readers to follow the discussion. Good job!

Main Idea/Thesis 
You could specify some points in the thesis statement. Here is what you present in the essay:

Despite the ethical challenges faced by drone technology, drones are increasingly influencing our lives and have far reaching impacts on humanity.

You mention that drones are increasingly influencing our lives. However, you do not specify how drones have influenced our lives. Because you do not specify this, the readers might not have a clear overview of the main discussion.

Since you mention that drones are increasingly influencing our lives, how are drones influencing our lives? What are some examples of the notable impacts that drones have had on humanity? Specifying these details in the thesis statement makes it easier for the readers to understand the main focus of the discussion.

*Nelson 9370378 has requested that you respond to the Content Development:   
Some details in the discussion could be explained further. Here is what you write in the essay:

Covert drones have led to the destruction of homes, displacement of populations and retaliatory violence by local groups.

You mention that covert drones have led to destruction of homes and displacement of populations, but you do not present statistics that show the number of displaced populations. Because of this, the readers will not clearly see the negative effects of the drone war.

Since you mention that covert drones have destroyed homes, what is the estimated number of homes that have been destroyed by drones? What is the estimated number of families displaced by drone attacks? What is the estimated number of innocent civilians that have been killed by drone operations? What are examples of sources that show this? Providing these details makes it easier for the readers to understand the negative effects of covert drone operations.

*Nelson 9370378 has requested that you respond to the Use of Resources:   
You do not cite all your resources in the references page. Here is what you present in the essay:

Drones are also installed with operating windows and sensors which make them easy to control (Benjamin, 2014).

You cite Benjamin (2014) in a parenthetical citation. However, you do not cite the complete information regarding this source in the references page. Because you do not cite the complete details, the readers might not clearly understand where you borrowed the material you present.

Since you follow APA guidelines, the general format for APA citation is presented below:

Author. (Date). Title. Publication data.

Here is an example:

Winston, A. (2014). Bananas of Life. New York: Penguin Press

Presenting the complete information of your cited sources in a separate references page makes it easier for the readers to understand where you borrowed your sources.
Summary of Next Steps: 

• In the thesis statement, specify how drones have influenced our lives.
   

• Present statistics that clearly show the negative effects of covert drone operations.
   

• Use the appropriate APA format in citing sources in your references page.

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DRONE TECHNOLOGY PROJECT

Name: Nelson Ramos

Institutional affiliation: DeVry

Instructor: LAS 342

Date: 02/17/17

ABSTRACT

Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles. They are remote controlled and others can fly autonomously. Commonly classified as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), they rely on artificial intelligent technology to complete missions. Drones are equipped with state of the art technology. They are fitted with infra-red cameras, GPS trackers, magnetometer and LED light indicators and gyroscope technology devices. Drones are also installed with operating windows and sensors which make them easy to control (Benjamin, 2014).

The use of drones for military functions started in the 19th century. At this time drones were mostly used to train military personnel on antiaircraft techniques. These drones were launched from a station to transport bombs. They were used once. Most of them exploded after launching designated missiles and bombs. Today, the United States Air force has successfully pioneered the effective use of drones. The military has been able to successfully sent drones to high risk flying war zones, (Nijhout, 2003). [You also do not cite this source in the “References” page. What source by Nijhout did you borrow from? Do present all borrowed sources in your references page.]

Thomas 2014 argues that military use of drone has demonstrated the possibility of carrying out high risk operations with zero aircrew casualties. The drones don’t just carry payloads; they can be instructed to hit a specific target in a busy market, take photos and retrieve within a few seconds.

The use of drones has extended to civilian use. Actually, individuals are buying more drones than military organizations. Most individuals would like to own a drone for agricultural and commercial purposes. The use of drones is likely to extend in journalism and recreational fields through the introduction of drone racing. This research will have far reaching implications for literature on drone technology.

Table of Contents

COVER PAGE …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… i

ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..iii

THESIS STATEMENT 2

HISTORIC TIMELINE AND PREDECESSOR ASSESSMENT 3

2.1 Introduction 3

2.2 Military drones 3

2.3 Aerodromes 4

2.4 Predator 4

2.5 The Reaper 4

2.6 Civilian drones 4

2.7 Flying kites 4

2.8 Hot Air balloons 4

2.9 Taco-copter 4

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 5

3.1 Introduction 5

3.2 Evaluation of ethical considerations 5

3.3 Ethical theories 5

IMPACT OF DRONE TECHNOLOGY 5

4.1 Introduction 5

4.2 Social impact 6

4.3 Cultural impact 6

4.4Political impact 6

4.5 Economic impact 6

4.6 Environmental impact 7

CONCLUSION 8

References 8

PEER EVALUATION ANALYSIS 9

THESIS STATEMENT

Despite the ethical challenges faced by drone technology, drones are increasingly influencing our lives and have far reaching impacts on humanity.

HISTORIC TIMELINE AND PREDECESSOR ASSESSMENT

2.1 Introduction

The history of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is as long as the history of aircraft. The idea of drones started with the idea of balloons. More improvements were gradually made with better the systems. The use of drones in the ancient time was associated with the military. Later, most counties ventured in the development of modern drones with artificial intelligence capabilities. Civilians are also able to afford drones for both commercial and private use.

Historic timeline of drones

• 2.2 Military drones

Ancient military leaders always dreamed about a time when the will be able to reach their enemies from a distance. They made many attempts to fly manned aerial vehicles over enemy territories. Unfortunately, they were easily shot down by the enemy antiaircraft fire. Military leaders made more attempts to reach their enemies through the air. For instance, the Austrian army used balloons to attack Venice in 1849. The Japanese used similar balloons to carry out the Fu-go bombings in 1945. Military drones developed over different stages:

• 2.3 Aerodromes

The United States military pioneered the manufacture of ancient primitive drones. The US confederate forces flew reconnaissance drones during the American civil war. [You could elaborate on this section. What type of technology did confederate forces use as drones during the civil war? What were the mechanics involved in these drones?] In 1896 Samuel Langley developed several unpiloted aircraft nicknamed aerodromes which hovered over Washington D.C. (Borgeson, & Valeri, 2009

The 19th and 20th-century drones used simple radio technology. Tele-automation technology and cameras were essential to carry out operations. They were pioneered by Nicola Telsa. He used remote control systems to control the drones. These radio controlled planes proved to be useful in the first and Second World War. During this time drones were fitted with cameras to produce aerial photographs. The main aim of traditional drones was to reach the target and drop bombs. They were basically a kind of a flying bomb targeting enemy territories.

• 2.4 Predator

The MQ-1 predator was developed by the General Atomics to be used United States Air Force. They were first developed in the 1990s to provide surveillance. They were intended to provide intelligence on any denied area. The MQ-1 predator systems have been improved. Today it has several functions such as search, rescue, suppression of hostile air-defense and selected attacks on high-profile suspects. It also has the capacity to carry missiles commonly known as Hellfire missiles, (Jacob, 2015).

• 2.5 The Reaper

The new challenge of terrorism has motivated the American air force to rethink its military strategy. The current United States military strategy is based on counterterrorism from the skies through surveillance and killing. Ford (2015) carried out an intensive research on the benefits of drones in counterterrorism. He concluded that using drones to target high-profile terror suspects can help to suppress terror activities. He describes the use of the MQ-9 Reaper drone to counter terrorism as the new paradigm for warfare. He clearly shows how this new super intelligent armed drones will transform warfare. The reaper operates on high-end laser technology than its predecessor (predator). They have a very high connectivity. Their ability to connect to the server room is very fast. They can be able to take multiple instructions at once and execute them immediately. The reaper has successfully performed the intended purpose of hunting and killing in the recent terror war in Syria.

Modern drones have high sensing capabilities. The Reaper is not only made for war, but also supports accurate surveillance and can provide rescue missions to captured soldiers. They have precise targeting capabilities such that they can hit a specific target in a crowded market. The capabilities of drone warfare have been put into practice in the Vietnam and Pakistan war , (Aitken, 2014).

• 2.6 Civilian drones

Civilian drones are advanced versions of model airplanes. They come in different varieties. Most of them are piloted from the ground with a radio controller. Initially, drones were hobbyist’s toys but their functions have gradually changed to commercial functions, (Nocks, 2007).

• 2.7 Flying kites

The idea of drones for the civilian was coined from flying kites in the air. Hobbyists have used kites over the last years for fun. In most cases, kites were flown by children and hobbyists in special events. They were also common in mountain climbing ventures.

• 2.8 Hot Air balloons

The 21st century has been marked by rapid technological advancement. Hot air balloons were developed for hiking and sea touring. They are also used in watching wildlife in vast African jungles. They use a simple physics of an envelope containing heated air. They are cheaper to maintain and more civilians are able to purchase hot air balloons for both private and commercial uses.

• 2.9 Taco-copter

Taco-copters have been developed by the Silicon Valley. They have completely changed the world around us. They don’t only protect us in battlefields but also enhance civilian life. They are used in wildlife protection, farm management and recently in sporting. Giant online marketers such as Amazon have developed these drones to facilitate delivery of goods. These precise drones are used to deliver purchased goods to clients within a short time. Drones have also become essential in the supply of medical drugs and surgical equipment to remote hospitals. They will also be used by Hollywood actors to film difficult shots, (Custers, 2016).

Most civilian drones commonly known as private remote controlled aircraft are smaller in size and costs less money than complex military drones. They are fully operated by human beings. They rely on real-time control and can only perform the functions instructed by the remote pilot. Most of them are owned by individuals and multinational with a state license. The owners are only allowed to use them for specific functions as dictated by their license and other state laws.

The future of drones for both military and civilian use seems to be bright. Drones manufacturing giants are working day and night to manufacture drones with more functions. Technology has proved to offer better drones with multiple uses in the future. Quad-copters have become increasingly famous. The presence of quad-copters and drone-police patrolling cities or carrying passengers without onboard supervision would be a big step for humanity.

Custer’s (2016), argues that technological advancement is always accompanied by both positive and negative effects. Although civilian drones have enhanced timely delivery of services, military drones have raised many moral concerns. Many civilians believe that government agencies can abuse drones and interfere with their privacy. Drones can initiate autonomous attacks. Such attacks lack human involvement and cannot solve complex conflicts. Drones only reduce casualties among the aggressors and the targeted populations can react angrily against them. Incase drones are hacked they can have a devastating impact on humanity. Therefore, humanity should use drones selectively

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• 3.1 Introduction

Drones are increasingly influencing humanity. Drone technology has affected numerous sectors such as security, real estate, tourism, education, entertainment, oil, and gas industries, (Ford, 2015). Drone technology has been characterized by ethical challenges, namely; interfering with individual privacy rights, compromising the safety of civilians and noise pollution.

• 3.2 Evaluation of ethical considerations

The main ethical issue surrounding the use of drones is privacy. According to a detailed study done by Fakhry (2000), drones interfere with individual privacy rights. Drones are widely used for surveillance. They gather information on civilians and compromise individual privacy.

Second, the safety of civilians is compromised. Drones fly at a low altitude posing an immediate danger to civilians. In congested areas, drone accidents can lead to deaths and injuries. Although Federal Aviation Authority prohibits the use of drones for operations far from the operator, there are very limited follow-ups. In some cases, drone owners float these guidelines

Third, UAVs produce noise. Drones flying at low altitudes produce a lot of noise. This noise is an intrusion upon populations and even wildlife. Drones have proved to be noisy especially in highly populated areas, (Thompson, (2014).

[You may analyze other ethical issues concerning the drones. What are the ethical concerns regarding the use of drones in the military?]

• 3.3 Ethical theories

Ethical theories provide the guiding principles for making ethical decisions. They provide various decision-making styles. They enable people to make the same ethically correct decision using different methodologies. Quality ethical decisions lead to good human actions.

First, the deontological class of ethical theories is beneficial to the development of drone technology. It requires people to adhere to their obligations and duties when making ethical decisions. This theory is essential to drone manufacturers. They can use this theory to determine the architectural designs of drones and their impacts on the society.

Last, utilitarianism ethical theories are based on individual ability to predict the consequences of an action. In this case, a person makes choices based on their benefit to the society. The decisions which are more beneficial to the society are considered to be ethical. This theory can benefit lawmakers in making laws that are considerate to the members of the public. For instance, drones are able to save lives under difficult circumstances something which cannot be compared to privacy rights (Custers, 2016).

These ethical theories have played a major role in the manufacture of modern drones. For instance, Amazon Quadcopters have been designed with ethical considerations as shown below:

Drones pose serious ethical issues to humanity such as privacy interference, safety challenges, and noise pollution. Drone technology industry players will need to be more accountable and transparent so that they can win the trust of civilians on drone programs. In addition, government and lawmakers will need to make more and better regulations to safeguard the ethical standards of drone technology. The success of advanced drone technology will be based on deeper ethical consideration in the manufacturing and use of drones.

IMPACT OF DRONE TECHNOLOGY

• 4.1 Introduction

Drones technology has been touted as one of the best human technological advancement of the 21st century. They can do everything including surveillance, killing targets, saving lives, and delivering packages. Military drones are the most precise military weapons which have ever been invented. They have revolutionized conventional warfare and boosted antiterrorism activities in the Arab world. Drone technology has had a great impact on several areas including social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental on the aggressive nations and the targeted communities, (Ford, 2015).

• 4.2 Social impact

First, drones have been highly welcomed in the developed countries. These countries (in most cases aggressors) have efficiently used military drones to counter external aggression. Most of their militaries have supported drone war because of the promising precision and low human losses. The war on terror has united members of the public to support more drone targets in the Middle East and other Islamic states. Terror activities waged by jihads against the masses have had a big psychological impact on the citizens. According to the international center of conflict resolution, more Americans are willing to support covert drone operations because they save US soldiers and are perceived to be effective to suppress Islamic jihadists.

Drones killings have not been received well in target populations in Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan, (Kshetri, 2016). Drones done only kill militants in the US kill list but also has adverse effects on the civilians and local communities. Covert drones have led to the destruction of homes, displacement of populations and retaliatory violence by local groups. The militants believe that the US drones are helped by local informants. The suspected informants are victimized and stigmatized by local communities and militia organizations. They are tortured and their families victimized for supporting enemy drones. To these communities, drone warfare is a double tragedy. They are scared by both the militants and the US drones missiles. Thus drones have proved to be un-ineffective in solving complex conflicts.

Despite the precision of drones, they have been accused of hitting unintended suspects. If such suspects are political or religious leaders, they complicate the possibility of a peace process. In these cases, drone strikes are met with a mass public outrage. Drones instill fear to the members of the public. They hit their targets without any public understanding. People are left wondering who will be the next target. They become anxious and fearful. According to Nocks (2007), these traumatized members of the public develop strong anti-US opinions and may start mass violence against US military policies.

• 4.3 Cultural impact

Second, drone technology has led to cultural diversification. Despite the infancy of drone technology in most parts of the world; the United States has taken major steps in actualizing a drone controlled economy. The development of drones was pioneered by the American Air force. The US military was faced by challenges of accessing controlled areas and waging war with less military casualties. The Air force started developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to attack enemies at distance. The new challenge of terrorism has motivated the American air force to rethink its military strategy. The current United States military strategy is based on counterterrorism from the skies through surveillance and killing, (Kshetri, 2016).

Drone activities have been facilitated by the American liberal democratic culture. Drone warfare has played a major role in meeting American dreams of liberalization through regime changes in Africa and the Middle East. The drones have successfully fought anti-regime wars in an effort to free citizens and spread democracy. The American liberal culture has spread to Africa and the Arab world.

American secular lifestyles have also enabled the development of civilian drones. Most of these hobby drones are developed for enthusiasts who are willing to pay heavy prices for civilian drones. Most of them are high-income earners in the high consumption level in the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

• 4.4Political impact

Third, drone technology has developed in the midst of different political grounds. Custers (2016) discussed how most governments have come up with strict regulations on the use of drones. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration is the main policy maker on drone’s technology. Despite its efforts to streamline its guidelines on civilian drones, most commercial drone activities are illegal. They have not been allowed to share the American airspace with other manned aircraft. In most cases, this policy has been guided by public safety.

Most liberal governments have supported drone technology for a very long time. The United States has a very long covert drone program. The federal government has made huge investments in the development of modern military drones. The US Air Force and CIA play a major role in the development and use of drones. The American drone program has far reaching impact on day to day political decisions. The congress is always put at task to make decisions on the financing and mass use of drones in warfare.

Governments have increasingly faced more questions on the use of drones. For instance, the United States government has been forced to respond to concerns about the legality and ethics of covert drone strikes raised by human rights activists. This alarming concerned led to a complete policy change on drones use. The United States president was given more powers on drone control. For instance president barrack Obama had powers to authorize drones killings in Pakistan without congress approval, (Završnik, 2016). Therefore, military drone technology has revolutionized American politics. In the recent presidential campaigns, the presidential candidate who seemed to support effective use of drones to counter terrorism was highly supported and garnered many votes.

• 4.5 Economic impact

Forth, drones have a robust financial and economic impact in the modern business environment. In the United States and Israel, the drones manufacturing sector has been growing in the recent years. Drone sales for both military and private drones have been increasing. The association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVS) estimates the international market of drones at more than $100 billion, (Kshetri, 2016).

Economic Impact of drone technology (United States).

Drones have also impacted on business. Giant online marketers have developed these drones to facilitate delivery of goods. The famous Amazon Prime Air is used to deliver purchased goods to clients within a short time. In most cases, it takes less than half an hour to deliver an online purchased package. Drones have also become essential in the supply of medical drugs and surgical equipment to remote hospitals. Google has developed drones powered by batteries to deliver drugs in remote areas. They will also be used by Hollywood actors to film difficult shots, (Custers, 2016). The actors will soon produce their artistic content in front of drone assisted cameras. Drone technology will create numerous job opportunities,( Nocks,2007).

Impact of drone technology on job creation.

Most countries have not allowed drones in their air space. They have very strict laws on the use of drones in commercial drones. Drones in most countries have limited use. For instance, in the United States, drones are only allowed to fly in designated areas which are dictated by specific state licenses. Thus drone technology has not been utilized in the civilian transport sector. As a result, the United States may be losing more than $20 billion every year.

• 4.6 Environmental impact

Last, drones play a vital role in environmental conservation. Drones are used to collect critical data on environmental activities. In the Antarctic drones are used to gather information on the sea temperatures and to monitor the movement of sea animals. The drones provide real-time data on the movement of endangered animals such as whales. Drones are important in wildlife conservation. They have been used to monitor elephants in African parks.

Drones just like any other electronics have proved to be unfriendly to the environment. They destroy the environment through their entire life. Drones are commercially produced by multinational cooperation. The manufacturing factories are run by fossil fuels. The factories emit a lot of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulfur and arsenic gasses to the environment. The internal cables have polyvinyl chloride (PVC).Disposal of personal computers adds bio-waste to the environment. The hazardous substances are disposed on land and in the sea affecting the ecosystem, (Završnik, 2016).

CONCLUSION

Despite the infancy of the drone industry, drones are increasingly influencing humanity. Drone technology has affected numerous sectors such as security, real estate, tourism, education, entertainment, oil, and gas. Anything which is done by human hand, a drone can do it more accurately, faster and for less money. Drones can carry out real time surveillance and kill a target. They can supervise real estate projects, gas pipelines, monitor wildlife movements and even supervise students in a school, (Ford, 2015).

The fears of a potential invasion of privacy by drone technology will only require more accountability and transparency among industry players and pave ways for advanced drone technology to take over the world. Manufacturers are continuously making heavy investments in the drone technology industry. Tech giants such as the Silicon Valley and Amazon have made huge investments in this industry. The future of drones for military and private use is so much promising. Drones seem to have a bright future in combating terrorism and in engaging in more difficult tasks such as air-to-air combat missions. More civilians have expressed interest in purchasing more drones for hobbies and commercial purposes.

References

• Custers, B. (2016). The future of drone use: Opportunities and threats from ethical and legal perspectives. The Hague: T.M.C. Asser.

• Kshetri, N. (2016). Big data's big potential in developing economies: Impact on agriculture, health.

• Završnik, A. (2016). Drones and unmanned aerial systems: Legal and social implications for security and surveillance. and environmental security.

• Fakhry, M. (1991). Ethical theories in Islam. Leiden: E.J. Brill.

• Geirsson, H., & Holmgren, M. R. (2000). Ethical theory: A concise anthology. Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press.

• In Thompson, S. J. (2014). Global issues and ethical considerations in human enhancement technologies.

• Juniper, A. (2015). The complete guide to drones: Build + choose + fly + photograph.

• Thomas, C.K.(2014). UK Communication strategies for Afghanistan, 2001-2014.London: Rutledge publishers, (Ford, 2015).

• Nocks, L. (2007). The robot: The life story of a technology. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Greenwood Press.

• Ford, M. (2015). Rise of the drones: Technology and the threat of a jobless future.

PEER EVALUATION ANALYSIS

The peer evaluation form identified my writing strengths and weaknesses. The peer evaluation analysis affirmed that I had included all the required parts in my research paper. Different parts of my paper were well labeled could be easily identified. Through the evaluation test my peers noticed that I had used correct referencing styles. Through the APA format I clearly cited the authors and year of publication in my text. I also included a reference page.

The peer evaluation results identified slight weaknesses of my paper. My group learned that some of my references were incomplete. The incomplete sources were from the class room textbook. In addition the reference section was not alphabetized. This made the identification of references to be difficult. Although my paper had adequate information on drone technology, I did not write a clear thesis statement. Thus, it was difficult to relate different parts of the paper.

I have made efforts to improve my paper before submission. I revised my thesis statement to make my paper flow better. My thesis statement is now clear and a reader can easily identify my opinion about drone technology. The different parts of my paper are well connected into one quality project. I also took time to proof read my paper and corrected all grammatical errors such as for run on and punctuation marks. I also did more research on my references. I added all the missing information such as names of publishers and places of publication. The references are well alphabetized and easy to identify.