The field of aeronautics has been subject to a whirlwind of change, starting from the initial days of taking to the sky in clumsy contraptions of wood and canvas to the modern jetliners that ferry millions of people around the globe. Over the past few decades, however, there have been vast efforts to create aeroplanes that remove the humans from the equation called UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). UAVs are powered aerial vehicles that do not carry human operators. They use aerodynamic forces to provide air vehicle lift like traditional aerial vehicles and may operate with various degrees of autonomy: either under remote control by a human operator or autonomously, by onboard computers.
The history of pilotless aircraft, the predecessor to …show more content…
Almost all commercial aircraft that are currently in service are capable of piloting themselves via their onboard computers while the pilots are reduced to being overseers and only assume control typically in the case of an onboard emergency. Civilian, personal use UAVs, manufactured by companies in the US, China, France, and Britain are readily available in the market for a few hundred dollars. These are mostly used for hobby flying and aerial photography, however, the sheer availability and affordability of these platforms have caused concerns among the public. Weighing anywhere from 5-25 lbs, these UAVs, if improperly handled, can cause serious damage to property as well as pose as a serious collision threat to commercial aircraft. These "ready to fly" UAVs could also be used to transport illicit substances such as drugs, explosives, chemically, radiologically, and biologically hazardous materials with relative ease. Fortunately, as of today, no such cases have been reported, however, the Federal Aviation Administration requires each UAV to be licensed before flight besides requiring the operator to adhere to all airspace restrictions. Failure to register a UAV can result in civil penalties of up to $27,500 and criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years. With regard to the failure of a …show more content…
While performing tasks deemed too deadly or otherwise infeasible by human beings, the robust reliability and all terrain accessibility of a UAV opens up a new window of opportunity for its utilisation. In Peru, archaeologists used UAVs to speed up survey work and protect sites from squatters, builders and miners. Small drones helped researchers produce three-dimensional models of Peruvian burial sites instead of two-dimensional maps in weeks, a process that usually takes years. Meanwhile, the German postal carrier Deutsche Post DHL is testing a drone delivery service that could deliver medical and food supplies to areas with minimal road access. The operational capability of a UAV, it seems, is only limited by the resourcefulness of our minds. In conclusion, I believe that these wonderful platforms will be safer and more reliable with the progression of technology and the prospects for the applications of future UAVs will be infinitely
The history of pilotless aircraft, the predecessor to …show more content…
Almost all commercial aircraft that are currently in service are capable of piloting themselves via their onboard computers while the pilots are reduced to being overseers and only assume control typically in the case of an onboard emergency. Civilian, personal use UAVs, manufactured by companies in the US, China, France, and Britain are readily available in the market for a few hundred dollars. These are mostly used for hobby flying and aerial photography, however, the sheer availability and affordability of these platforms have caused concerns among the public. Weighing anywhere from 5-25 lbs, these UAVs, if improperly handled, can cause serious damage to property as well as pose as a serious collision threat to commercial aircraft. These "ready to fly" UAVs could also be used to transport illicit substances such as drugs, explosives, chemically, radiologically, and biologically hazardous materials with relative ease. Fortunately, as of today, no such cases have been reported, however, the Federal Aviation Administration requires each UAV to be licensed before flight besides requiring the operator to adhere to all airspace restrictions. Failure to register a UAV can result in civil penalties of up to $27,500 and criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years. With regard to the failure of a …show more content…
While performing tasks deemed too deadly or otherwise infeasible by human beings, the robust reliability and all terrain accessibility of a UAV opens up a new window of opportunity for its utilisation. In Peru, archaeologists used UAVs to speed up survey work and protect sites from squatters, builders and miners. Small drones helped researchers produce three-dimensional models of Peruvian burial sites instead of two-dimensional maps in weeks, a process that usually takes years. Meanwhile, the German postal carrier Deutsche Post DHL is testing a drone delivery service that could deliver medical and food supplies to areas with minimal road access. The operational capability of a UAV, it seems, is only limited by the resourcefulness of our minds. In conclusion, I believe that these wonderful platforms will be safer and more reliable with the progression of technology and the prospects for the applications of future UAVs will be infinitely