Publication: Drones for Development: Overview of Opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean
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2025-03-03
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2025-03-03
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In 2021-23, the World Bank conducted regional analytical work under the Support for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) in Projects and Operations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Advisory Services and Analytics. The work involved in-depth analysis of the development of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in 35 countries across LAC, identified key use cases, and provided a map of key domestic market players. UAS can be defined as aircraft designed to operate autonomously, or aircraft piloted remotely without a human on board, plus the equipment necessary for their safe and efficient operation. This comprehensive definition embraces all aspects of such systems. In popular usage, UAS are often referred to as drones. This is an imprecise term that focuses on the remotely piloted vehicle without including the flying systems behind it. Given the widespread acceptance and use of the term, however, drones may be used synonymously with unmanned aircraft systems in this report. Innovation in the UAS sector has resulted in a wide variety of models as new applications are developed. Drones are designed for specific purposes and have different capabilities in terms of range, speed, hovering capability, and load-carrying capacity. Sizes and shapes range from tiny drones used for photography, to big cargo drones able to transport loads weighing dozens of kilos. Costs range from a few hundred dollars for small units to several million dollars for systems requiring infrastructure for operation or for systems equipped with high-tech on-board technology. This variety allows for a wide span of uses that, beyond today’s widespread recreational use, can provide new technical solutions for many professional applications in the civil domain. This report intends to give an overview of the stage of UAS development in the region and serve as a guiding document for public sector decision-makers willing to explore the use of this technology.
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“World Bank. 2025. Drones for Development: Overview of Opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/42899 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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