References
UAS Strengths and Weaknesses
Considerations in Selecting a Small UAV for Police Operations. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.aeryon.com/whitepaper/whitepaperpolice
DeGramo, M. (2004). Issues Concerning Integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Civil Airspace. MITRE Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development. Retrieved from https://www.mitre.org/sites/default/files/pdf/04_1232.pdf
Gibbs, Y. (ed). (2016). NASA Global Hawk to Begin NOAA El Nino Storm Mission. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-global-hawk-to-begin-noaa-el-nino-storm-mission
Miller, P. (2015). MAAP conducts UAS test flight for pipeline inspection. Retrieved from http://www.uasmagazine.com/articles/1036/maap-conducts-uas-test-flight-for-pipeline-inspection
Reed, J. (2012). The skies open up for large civilian drones. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19397816
Rogoway, T. (2014). http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/why-the-usafs-massive-10-billion-global-hawk-uav-was-w-1629932000
Wingspan Increases Due to the Addition of Winglets. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/faqs/wingletspans.pdf
Primary objective for military UAS applications is to remove the soldier and protect them from harm while executing a mission objective. Military platforms are operating within flight restrictions, especially when transitioning through controlled airspace. As a potential loss of asset in the field, the UAS airframe is built for the military mission. When transitioning UASs into civilian service, redundant systems may be required above that of military requirements. Also, there is the challenge of increasing automation regarding sense and avoid technology for operations around manned aircraft traffic (DeGramo, 2004).
There are strengths from a past decade of innovations and evolution of UAS designs from military applications. This is a vital technology leverage point for launching more commercial and civilian UAS operations within the National Airspace System (NAS). Lessons learned from military operations help outline and define required staffing for long duration operations. Design implementations, improving situational awareness and education materials are resources for training and selection criteria of UAS pilots. Existing optical and radar payload sensor suite from military platforms could be re-purposed for civilian applications, including missions ranging from police work, research or infrastructure inspection (“Considerations,” 2016; Gibbs, 2016; Miller, 2015).
NASA is already flying a modified Global Hawk for meteorological studies. It is currently investigating the weather phenomena of El Nino. In concert with other manned aircraft and research ships, data collected by the Global Hawk will be used to understand the environmental changes with the cycles of El Nino and La Nina (Gibbs, 2016). Law enforcement is a leading user of UAS technology for expanding resources to support variety of police work ranging from surveillance to research and rescue (Reed, 2012). Also, UAS platforms could be used for fire inspection, assessment and mapping of a fire zone to aid in the attach plan for containment (“Considerations,” 2016).
UASs have a broad range of airframe sizes, from a small quad-copter to larger Predator or even larger Global Hawk. The latter is has wing span just short of 131 feet wide, comparable to a Boeing 737 (Rogoway, 2014; “Wingspan,” 2014). The next leap for UAS civilian operations may be transporting cargo, and ultimately one day serving as a passenger aircraft (Reed, 2012). There still remains the challenge for sense and avoid technology for UAS operations around other manned aircraft, and ultimately safe and reliable enough for on-board passenger transport. Integrating into the NAS, and aligning with technologies already being implemented with the effort for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (Next Gen) will be vital to expand UAS operations (DeGramo, 2004). Commercializing UAS operations is going to push the technology and solutions to mitigate sense and avoid issues today and increase operations tomorrow.
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