Introduction to UAS

GIS595/MEA792: UAV/lidar Data Analytics

NCSU OSGeoREL at Center for Geospatial Analytics

Fall 2016

Objectives

  • Use the proper terminology and understand its meaning
  • Describe the historical evolution of the UAS
  • Describe the elements of UAS
  • Classify different UAS according to their make and characteristics
  • Describe different classes of the UAS
  • Recognize the military and civilian contribution to the UAS development
  • Understand the current state of the UAS development
  • Describe the objectives beyond the use of the UAS

What is an UAV?

For the brief summary read the overview article

UAS or UAV? Or maybe a drone?

UAV = Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

UAS = Unmanned Aerial Systems

Drone = Dynamic Remotely Operated Navigation Equipment

RPA = Remotely Piloted Aircraft

UAS

UAS = Unmanned Aircraft Systems

  • Unmanned =

    without a person onboard (operated by automatic or remote control)

  • Aircraft =

    able to fly

  • System = associated elements related to safe operations

    (may include control stations,control links, support equipment, payloads, flight termination systems, and launch recovery equipment)

    consists of three elements:
    • Unmanned Aircraft;
    • Control Station;
    • Data Link.

UAS or UAV? Or maybe a drone?

UAV = Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (?)

  • Excludes: missiles, weapons, or exploding warheads,
  • Includes: all classes of airplanes, helicopters, airships, and powered-lift aircraft,
  • Doesn’t include: traditional balloons, rockets, tethered aircraft and un-powered gliders.

How does an UAS look like?

Types and classification of UAS

Different shapes and sizes…

… different designs…

… and different classifications

  • By physical size
  • By weight
  • By endurance
  • By altitude
  • By wing loading
  • By engine type
  • By range
  • By performance
  • By capabilities
  • By type...

US classifications

more about classifications in this article (source for the table)

International classifications

Simplified classifications

How does an UAS work?

System elements

Generic Unmanned Aircraft System

  • Air vehicle
  • Mission planning element
  • Command and control element
  • Communication link
  • Launch and recovery element (for some of them)
  • Payload

Sensors

Sensors (2)

Who invented a first UAS?

Brief history

History – early beginnings

  • 1782 Montgolfier baloon
  • 1843 and 1848 Aerial steam carriage (small distances within the hangar)

History – pioneers

1918 Kettering Bug

  • never used in combat,
  • Max flying distance: 75 mi

1944 Germany: V-1 flying bomb (Buzz Bug),

USA: Interstate BQ-4/TDR(TDN).

History – modern era

  • Vietnam War: UAVs used extensively in combat, but only for reconnaissance
  • 2002 first rotary wing UAV Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout
  • last four decades (movie)

Who uses UAS?

Types of UAV operations

Types of UAS Operations

  • Public Operations
    Governmental, limited by federal statue to certain government operations within U.S. Airspace;
  • Civil Operations
    Non-Governmental, must be conducted in accordance with all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations;
  • Model Aircraft
    Hobby or Recreation only.

FAA – Federal Aviation Administation

  • NAS – National Airspace System

The common network of U.S. airspace — air navigation facilities, equipment, and services; airports or landing areas; aeronautical charts, information and services; rules, regulations, and procedures; technical information; and manpower and material.

Integration of UAS into the NAS

  • review of current policies, regulations, environmental impact, privacy considerations, standards, and procedures;
  • identification of gaps in current UAS technologies and regulations, standards, policies, or procedures;
  • development of new technologies and new or revised regulations, standards, policies, and procedures;
  • and the associated development of guidance material, training, and certification of aircraft systems, propulsion systems, and airmen.

For more info: Integration of UAS in the NAS Roadmap

Can I use it?

regulations, standards, policies, and procedures

Know before you fly

What are UAS used for?

Army and government

Public Use Aircraft

  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Commerce
  • Department of Defence
  • Department of Energy
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Department of Interior
  • Department of Justice
  • NASA
  • NOAA
  • State Universities
  • State Law Enforcement

Civilian Application Fields for UAS

Commercial markets:

  • Engineering & Surveying
  • Mining
  • Civil & Heavy Earthworks
  • Oil & Gas
  • Environmental & Landfill
  • Public Agencies
  • Agriculture & Forestry

Application examples (1)

  • Agricultural industry:
    • UAS equipped with fertilizer and pesticide dispersing equipment can be used to spray over large fields;
  • Telecommunications:
    • As mobile relay platforms as well as in disaster zones for emergency telecommunications;

Application examples (2)

  • News broadcasting:
    • In providing aerial video feeds for news events where reporters cannot get into time;
  • Air traffic Control and ground traffic control:
    • To monitor traffic and accidents over highways and road in big and densely populated cities, violation of traffic rules;

Application examples (3)

  • Mineral exploration:
    • In aerial survey, to find minerals in desolate and hard-to-reach regions;
  • Coastal surveillance:
    • By the coast guard for monitoring coastlines;

UAS for Remote Sensing (1)

  • Agricultural and environmental application:
    • Vegetation and/or biodiversity control, forest fire monitoring, tree classification, monitor stream temperatures, animals detection, bird counts;
  • Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance:
    • Detection of lost persons in difficult-to-access situations, support fire brigades in real-time crisis management, rapid disaster management;

UAS for Remote Sensing (2)

  • Aerial monitoring in engineering:
    • Infrastructure inspections and crop monitoring, distributed wind measurement, landslide monitoring;
  • Cultural heritage:
    • Orthophotos of archaeological sites, 3D models of man-made structures;

UAS for Remote Sensing (3)

  • Traditional surveying, conventional mapping and photogrammetry, and cadastral applications:
    • cadastral surveying, advantageous alternative to traditional surveying, high-precision parcel boundary determination;

Extended review on UAS in remote sensing in the article

Use your imagination!

More at: Power of Drones - Totally Cool Uses for Drones

Why shoud you know how to use UAV?

Barriers

  • constantly changing legislation and regulations,
  • political and societal acceptance,
  • ...
    what do you consider a barrier in UAS development?
    What obstacles do you see for yourself as a potential UAS user?