Autonomous systems are conquering commercial and civil applications – market volume to triple by 2030

The combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and drone technology is considered one of the most dynamic growth markets of the coming years. According to a recent study by MarketsandMarkets, the global market for AI in drones will reach a volume of around 821.3 million US dollars in 2025. By 2030, growth is expected to reach 2.75 billion US dollars – an average annual growth rate of 27.4 per cent. Already today, more than 8 million commercial drones are sold annually, a significant proportion of which have AI-based functions. Around 68 per cent of industrial drone users worldwide already rely on intelligent systems for object recognition, flight planning or data analysis. This development is being driven by increasing automation in industry, agriculture and defence, as well as advances in AI-supported flight control and data analysis.

Wide application in the economy

The potential of AI-controlled drones is rapidly unfolding, particularly in commercial applications. Industries such as construction, energy, agriculture, logistics and infrastructure are increasingly relying on automated aircraft for tasks such as inspections, surveying, delivery and environmental monitoring. According to studies, the commercial sector is expected to account for the largest share of the market. In agriculture alone, over 30 per cent of all commercial drones are currently in use – for example, for the precise application of pesticides or the early detection of pest infestation. Studies show that AI-controlled agricultural drones can increase crop yields by up to 15 per cent.

AI-optimised drones are also being used for last-mile delivery in the logistics sector, for example by Amazon Prime Air and UPS Flight Forward. These enable delivery times to be reduced by up to 35 per cent through optimised route planning. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence significantly reduces labour costs while increasing operational safety. This is supported by the growing range of ‘Drone-as-a-Service’ (DaaS) offerings, whose global market volume is estimated to exceed 5 billion US dollars by 2030. This allows companies to use state-of-the-art systems flexibly and without large initial investments.

Autonomous flight missions at the centre of development

A particularly fast-growing area is the application of AI in flight and mission operations. Here, artificial intelligence takes over central control tasks such as navigation, route optimisation, obstacle avoidance and coordination of drone swarms. Modern AI algorithms enable real-time adjustments to weather conditions, terrain or unexpected obstacles, thereby significantly improving flight safety.

In practice, these advantages are particularly evident in disaster control, military reconnaissance and e-commerce: in search and rescue operations, swarm drones autonomously detect movements, map areas in real time and coordinate with each other – sometimes with more than 50 drones in operation at the same time. This dynamic mission planning not only makes operations more efficient, but also completes them more quickly. Delivery services report efficiency gains of 20 to 35 percent thanks to AI-supported navigation. Technologies such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) and deep reinforcement learning are also increasingly finding their way into mission planning.

North America as an innovation leader

According to market analysts, North America will take a leading role in the field of AI in drones in the coming years. The region benefits from a strong defence infrastructure, a large number of research-intensive universities and technology companies, and an innovation-friendly regulatory environment. The US government alone invested over $600 million in research programmes related to autonomous air systems in 2023, including DARPA projects on AI-enabled real-time control and swarm coordination.

The FAA actively supports the expansion of autonomous flight systems with pilot programmes and legal frameworks. In addition, North America is experiencing a high level of start-up activity, with more than 400 active drone start-ups according to VentureRadar. Companies such as Skydio, which tripled its production capacity in 2024, and Shield AI, valued at over US$1 billion, are driving development forward. Added to this are investments in AI chips and propulsion systems – from electric motors and hybrid solutions to gas turbines – which are further improving the energy efficiency of aircraft.

Key companies are driving market momentum

The most important players in the market include international companies such as DJI, which dominates the civil drone market with a market share of over 70 per cent, as well as Teledyne Flir, Qualcomm Technologies, Honeywell, Draganfly and 3D Survey. In addition, specialised providers such as Skydio, Dedrone, Shield AI and Percepto are becoming increasingly important. These companies develop powerful software solutions that connect AI directly to existing drone platforms or corporate infrastructures. Thanks to APIs and cloud solutions, data can be processed and evaluated in near real time – a decisive advantage for applications with high safety or time requirements.

Conclusion: A market with a future

The combination of drone technology and artificial intelligence is a key factor for the future of autonomous air mobility. With the advancement of AI algorithms, sensor technology and connectivity, new application scenarios are constantly emerging in business, administration and civil society. Experts see urban air mobility – for example, through passenger drones from Volocopter or EHang – as the next logical step. The first air corridors for autonomous aircraft are already being created in cities such as Paris, Los Angeles and Singapore. At the same time, regulatory initiatives such as the EU AI Act and the introduction of the ‘Remote ID’ standard by the FAA are ensuring binding safety and transparency requirements. The use of AI-supported drones will continue to become more professional in the coming years, not only making existing processes more efficient, but also opening up completely new possibilities.