2011-03-31

While few would dispute that unmanned air systems have transformed military aviation during the past decade, it is looking increasingly certain that the coming 10 years will see huge change in unmanned air vehicles themselves. It would not be excessive to call the next couple of years a genuine watershed in the development of UAVs.

Steven Zaloga, co-author of a Teal Group study of the sector, likens the current generation of UAVs to the aircraft, tanks and artillery of the First World War. These technologies proved critical but were not mature, and it was during the years after the war that they were more fully developed. The first drone aircraft, he notes, appeared in 1917, but it was not until the past decade that a "cascade of technologies" such as GPS navigation and datalinks combined with the post 9/11 military need for surveillance in Afghanistan and Iraq to spur development and mass deployment of a mature generation of UAVs.

As in the years after 1918, Zaloga foresees development of a new generation of platforms as combat in Iraq and Afghanistan winds down. While current-generation UAVs were largely developed from existing platforms rather than through competitive tendering, the next generation are going to be developed to meet specific requirements and thus promise to be much more sophisticated, he says.

Next-generation UAVs will be designed to survive in much more hostile environments, for missions against enemies possessing effective anti-aircraft defences, and for deployment beyond the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions typical of today's UAVs. Some of these programmes will thus be expensive. Zaloga expects the big defence contractors to make a serious play for them. He says: "They are very anxious to get involved in the UAV field."

But big names in defence are not necessarily destined to succeed. Winners, says Zaloga, will be the companies that best understand the armed services' requirements and master the integration of electronic systems to meet them, with a clear appreciation of the fact that the "aircraft is just a platform".

He expects further surprises in the player line-up. Just as General Atomics and Sagem were not thought of as airframers before rising to UAV sector prominence with their Predator and Sperwer, and mini-UAV leader AeroVironment was a newcomer to military aviation, the next generation of UAVs are just as likely to come from new names as from established airframers.

In the years to 2020, the Teal Group expects US spending in UAVs to be even more dominant than it is in defence spending overall. As global UAV research, development and procurement spending doubles from current levels (see chart), US UAV R&D spending will account for 77% of the world total, compared with 64% of world defence R&D. In UAV procurement, the USA will spend 69% of the total, versus 38% of defence procurement.

US dominance will stem from its greater investment in cutting-edge technologies and its head start over other major aerospace centres such as Europe. The trend follows those in other sectors such as guided weapons, information and sensor technology and military space systems.

After the USA, the biggest spending region will be Asia Pacific, closely followed by Europe. Africa and Latin America will be modest spenders.

Some of the most exciting developments are poised to come in UAVs for civil use. With large numbers of UAVs in service, people will find roles for them, says Zaloga. Civil operators such as coastguard services and border patrols will increasingly look to UAVs to meet new requirements or satisfy existing ones.

As airspace issues are resolved, other non-military uses are certain to follow, with rich rewards for companies able to develop new UAVs or adapt existing ones to meet them.

One civil market to watch is Japan, which the Teal report - written before the Japanese earthquake - sees as a niche market ready for rapid development. Zaloga notes that one example of adaptation of existing, military airframes is the use of a Global Hawks to survey the Fukushima nuclear reactor.

Source: flightglobal.com

2015-12-15

FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just announced a streamlined and user-friendly web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms) including payloads such as on-board cameras.

2015-12-08

Japan’s Clue launches DroneCloud, data management platform for businesses using drones

Tokyo-based Clue announced in November the launch of a data management service for drones called DroneCloud. The service will offer a platform to manage drone data, such as tracking who operates which drone, managing projects and team members operating drones, as well as managing and sharing drone flight data.

2015-11-30

Minnesota DoT Testing Drones for Bridge Inspections

“We do underneath rope access inspections,” said Barritt Lovelace, a regional manager for Collins Engineers Inc., an agency headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the country. “Basically, we rock-climb bridges. It’s a lot of fun.” In Duluth recently, Lovelace stood with a host of others below the Blatnik Bridge to participate in a demonstration of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s ongoing study of using drones for bridge inspection purposes.

2015-11-23

Over 2,100 Commercial End Users, Vendors at First Annual Drone World Expo

The first ever Drone World Expo had an extremely successful launch last week at the San Jose Convention Center. The exhibit hall floor featured 75 exhibiting companies and the event attracted 2,120 commercial drone professionals. The exhibitors responded enthusiastically about their experience at the new trade show with many already planning on renewing booth space for the 2016 Show which will take place November 15-16 back at the San Jose Convention Center.

2015-11-11

Drone Standards Tough To Reach For Young Pilots

Megan Halek could be the best unmanned aircraft pilot coming out of the University of North Dakota’s highly regarded aviation program this year: She’s aced a training program and has enough air experience to fly private jets worldwide.

2015-11-04

Drone World Expo – Exclusive Board Member Interviews

To find out what inspires their interest in UAS and attracts the Advisory Board Members to support Drone World Expo, we scheduled a series of exclusive interviews. Our eleventh interviewee is Gretchen West, Senior Advisor of Innovation and Technology at Hogan Lovells.

2015-10-26

US DoT Seeks Public Comments on UAS Registration

In a surprise move, DOT just published a document,Clarification of the Applicability of Aircraft Registration Requirements for UAS and Request for Information Regarding Electronic Registration for UAS, to the Federal Register. DOT is soliciting recommendations on all aspects of the UAS registration process, including which UAS should be exempt from the registration requirement.

2015-10-20

UK Military Aviation Authority to Update Unmanned Operations Guidelines

The UK’s Military Aviation Authority is preparing the release of an updated version of its regulations on unmanned air vehicles, which will draw on feedback from a first document that was released last January.

2015-10-09

Drones are providing film and TV viewers a new perspective on the action

Adazed and bloodied student who had just been mugged stumbled down a darkened alleyway in a slum. He lifted his shirt, revealing a gaping wound, before collapsing on the ground as curious onlookers gathered around.

2015-10-04

Air National Guard wants to Fly MQ-9 Reaper from Syracuse’s Hancock Airport

The Air National Guard wants to fly remotely piloted aircrafts out of Hancock Field at the Syracuse International Airport. The change would save time and money, as the National Guard has to send its aircrafts to fly from Fort Drum because of airspace restrictions.