This paper presents a preliminary investigation ofusing motion detection algorithms in a commercial drone aspart of a surveillance system. Frame differencing is used in thealgorithm as it is an effective and an efficient way for detectingand tracking moving objects. We explore ways in which thedrone can make decisions autonomously, based on informationextracted from moving objects in views and for applicationssuch as agriculture, hunting, public safety and land surveying. © 2017 IEEE.