Picture this: you're in your backyard having a barbecue with friends. It's a bright, sunny day and you hear a loud noise. Looking up, you see an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), better known as a drone, hovering over your gathering, apparently taking pictures. It's startling to say the least!

Drones have expanded from their military role of unmanned combat strikes to use by businesses in a variety of ways. Hollywood latched onto the idea, requesting permission to use cameras mounted on drones to film remote areas or dangerous locations, following the government's approval of a request by BP to use drones to survey oil pipelines in remote areas of Alaska.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which controls all U.S. air space, also regulates the domestic use of drones and requires certificates of authorization before allowing the drones to fly. On Sept. 25, the agency granted regulatory exemptions to six aerial phot and video production companies, which is the first step to allowing the film industry to use drones extensively.