The main area of research regarding drones in the manufacturing industry is collision avoidance technology in enclosed spaces. Drones that are flown outdoors need to be in the line of sight and can be landed in case of any emergency. However, in the manufacturing industry there is not a lot of space and the device needs to be programmed in such a manner that it does not collide with different objects in its path.
The main concern regarding drones and their use in the manufacturing industry is that of safety. The FAA is in its infancy in regulating drones in the commercial sector, although testing is progressing gradually and the rules are slowly starting to take shape.