Intel pumps $US60 million into Chinese drone maker Yuneec

“And one of the best ways to bring that smart and connected world to everyone and everywhere has been drones”, said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, in an announcement yesterday “Together, we believe we can make drones that will truly change the world”, added Krzanich.

In a very short period of time, drones have gone from being viewed as pricey hobbyist toys to an enticing technology with serious commercial applications, including agriculture, construction, product delivery and others. It said current drones may now be programmed to perform simple tasks without human control such as hovering or flying home.

Industry insiders suggested the move was more aimed at military than civilian drones, however, amid concerns that the technology could fall into the hands of hostile parties.

[Listen: Pros and Cons of Drones Why regulate?].

Forbes noted in its report that a number of drone companies in China had attracted investors, including Ehang and DJI, which raised million and $75 million respectively earlier this year.

But while Intel is opening its wallet to show its love for drones, Gartner’s Hung noted that the company is unlikely to ever build and sell its own drone.

Both, Intel and Yuneec plan to collaborate on projects, but it is still undisclosed what they are going to develop. A spokesperson for Intel said via email that the company is not providing details at this point on what Intel technologies might be used by Yuneec.

During an Intel event last week in San Francisco, Krzanich put drones, new-wave gadgets and robots on display during high-profile speeches.

TechCrunch emphasized that drone investments had been tripled as of May this year.

The chip maker is searching for new devices to get its chips into, and the latest strategy is to invest in companies that are developing products with the potential of expanding the market for semiconductors.