A senior Australian researcher in intelligent transport systems thinks a ready to fly drone in the stocking may encourage youngsters to be the designers of future drone technology.

Dr James Ward from the University of Sydney says unmanned aerial vehicle technology has been around for 50 years and is here to stay.

Drones usually retail from several hundred dollars right up tot he thousands.

“Regardless of your opinion on the application of drones, they are commonplace equipment for a number of industries. And as the technology is refined UAVs are likely to be employed by many others,” the robotics researcher who also mentors high school students aged 14-18 at a robotics club based at the university said.

The SBS looks at how drones will fit into the future of firefighting.

“We see young students who have been raised with hi-tech devices at their fingertips and they are keen to learn about the mechanics of such technologies. Some of the youngsters who have drones on their Xmas wishlist may in fact be the designers of future drone technology.

“So learning how they operate, thinking about potential applications of the technology and the legal and ethical issues surrounding their use can be very educational,” Dr Ward said.

Australian law prohibits the use of the UAVs at above 122 metres without Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approval, and not within five kilometres of an aerodrome. Smaller drones used for non-commercial purposes do not require a permit or approval, but CASA regulations say they must fly at least 30 metres away from people and property.

The university lists 10 ways drones are used today:

* Archaeologists have used small drones with infra-red cameras to construct a 3-D model of ancient burial mounds

* Farmers are using drones for monitoring weed outbreaks and cattle numbers

* Scientists working in Indonesia used drones to study endangered Sumatran orang-utans

* Weather forecasters fly drones into hurricanes to more accurately monitor a storm’s strength

* Fire Brigades in Victoria used drones to help fight the Hazelwood coal pit fire

* Japanese safety inspectors used drones to survey the Fukushima nuclear power plant

* Canadian search and rescue groups have used drones to find missing hikers

* Sochi Winter Olympics Sports photographers used drones to film ski and snowboard events

* Italian fashion house Fendi created the world’s first live-streaming catwalk show using drones

* Researchers at Switzerland’s engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university, ETH Zurich, have designed a drone that can juggle.