History
of UAS
The
Unmanned Aerial System has been evolved as the technology break through were
introduced and military demand persisted. Each subsystem is selected and
designed carefully to ensure the overall UAS performance. Many development milestones from many countries
and companies that lead to today’s multiple purpose UAS. It is estimated that the UAS market cap will
be over billions of dollars a year because the technology of the UAS have been
developed so fast that high power, low price and simple operation UASs are
available for commercial and civilian uses in recent years. Most of the civilian drones are carrying a
camera to transfer images back, while some are carrying chemicals to treat
corps. Military uses UASs that can take
images through the cloud via Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems on long
range high altitude UASs for surveillance or reconnaissance missions.
In
the 2000s, a good example of the UAS at this time period is Predator B, or
‘Reaper’ which modified from the MALE systems into a HALE system and into
Predator C. It has the payload mass of
1363 kg that can carry a range of research equipment for automation, sense-ad
avoid, or internal weapons. In addition, the Predator C has a ceiling of 20,000
meter, maximum speed of 740 km/hr, endurance longer than 18 hour, and stealth
capability.
Compare
to the early UAVs before 1970, for example, the ‘Ryan Firebee’ (later
Teledyne-Ryan). The similarity is that the unmanned air vehicle are equipped
with payloads, navigations and communication systems, and need a control
station and a launch and recovery method. They are sent to the DDD situation to complete
a specific mission. The other similarity
is that both are built in USA and driven by Military need to send a UAV in DDD
environment.
The difference can be
listed one by one.
First,
the power plant for the Firebee is jet-propelled while the Predator has Turbo
fan engine with 18kN thrust, which is much powerful for increased endurance and
ceiling and range. The turbo fan
technology was not mature in early 1950s. But in the future, electrical powered
engine, solar powered engine, or rocket engine UAVs might come into the market.
Second,
the Firebee carried still cameras for reconnaissance purpose over enemy territory,
but the photographs were developed at base after the return of the UAV. In
contrast, the Predator uses Synthetic Aperture Radar and a forward-looking
infrared (FLIR) that can ‘see’ through clouds and works on
both day time and night time. This allows the Predator ability to fly at high
altitude to avoid detection and ground fire, while taking the images on the
ground surface. In the future, the instant video and thermos images could be
sent to the internet in real time. Your
ipad or iphone can receive the instant streaming of the data from the UAS.
Third,
the Firebee is controlled via direct radio line of sight (LOS) from a ground
control station, or a stand-off manned aircraft, while the Predator is equipped
with modern GPS that provide accuracy and less payload, and equipped with satellite
communication to allow fast and real time broad band two way
communication.
Fourth,
the Firebee doesn’t have much automation and computer work, while the Predator
has fast computer systems, network centric operations. In the future, the UAS could be an autonomy
system that has its own brains to made decisions during the mission. This might
remind readers of some Sci-fi movies or novels with machine taking control over
human. It could be happening but need
careful control and risk analysis.
Fifth, the Predator has
stealth capability while the Firebee don’t.
Thanks to the material science development and the shape of the airframe
design. ‘Invisible’ flying object could be true in the near future.
Sixth,
the name of ‘Firebee’ is from the 1950s when this UAS was developed to carry
bombs for release onto ground targets. Due to the limitation of the technology
at that time, the accuracy of the aiming at the target is low, although it is
much more accurate than radio guided missiles built at that time. The Predator can fire a laser-guided missile
from the high altitude and shot at a moving car on the ground.
Seventh,
the launching of the ‘Firebee’ is from the pylon of a midair C130 or other
airplane, and when it is done, the Firebee will deploy a parachute and flowing in the air or floating on
the ocean surface to wait to be picked up either by helicopter in air or a boat
on water. The Predator has a take-off and landing length about 2,000ft on a
semi-prepared surface.
Looking
forward, the new technology such as artificial intelligence, UAV GPS
communication (for sense-and avoid purpose), real time video and image
transmission via internet, and satellite communication will be more popular in
modern UAVs. The market is demanding cheaper and easier to use UAVs with high
end technologies, so the designer and manufacture of the UAV will focus on
applying the new technologies in to the UAVs.
For example, The DJI phantom, a VTLO UAV has been updating its
technology every year with DJI inspire, DJI F550 and more to come.
Reference:
Austin,
R. Unmmaned Aircraft Systems. Wiley Publickation. Chap 28.
Predator
RQ-1/ MQ-1/MQ-9 Reaper UAV, United States of America. Retrieved on 5/1/2016
from http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/predator-uav/
Tarantola,
A. Aug 2013. The Ryan Firebee: Grandfather to the Modern UAV. Retrieved on 5/1/2016 from http://gizmodo.com/the-ryan-firebee-grandfather-to-the-modern-uav-1155938222
3
Drones Stock to Watch in 2016. Retrieved on 5/1/2016 from http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/12/21/3-drone-stocks-to-watch-in-2016.aspx
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