Contents About the Survey Conclusions & Recommendations Illustration of UMS Supply Chains Overview of Survey Questions & Answers

Contents

About the SurveyConclusions & RecommendationsIllustration of UMS Supply ChainsOverview of Survey Questions & Answers

About the Survey

NASA wants to know more about the Unmanned Systems (UMS) industry...• for supporting commercial applications • for private sector advancement

Secondary data collection methods can’t capture needed data.

Purpose of Survey

Survey covers all forms of UMS: • aerial, • space, • ground, and • nautical systems

Purpose of Survey

Email-based survey

• Survey sent to 178 businesses and public sector entities

• Responses received from 32

• Response rate: 17.9%

Survey Diagnostics

Conclusions & Recommendations

“un-supportive attitude of . . . legislators and . . . lack of funding/support

as compared to other leading states”

Respondents Biggest ConcernRespondents are highly concerned with “overcoming regulatory barriers.”

“lack of/over restrictive federal regulation of unmanned aircraft”

“Until the social value becomes clear, the investment funding and push to overcome

barriers will be weak.”

• Developing relationships & market• Secure communications• Cultural beliefs & concerns• Safety around UMS vehicles

Respondents Other Concerns

Most common industry sectors for UMS:• professional, scientific & technical services;• logistics (e.g.: runways & test sites)• state & local government• manufacturing• educational services• transportation & warehousing• information

About UMS Producers

Most commonly used technologies (truncated list): • Sensors• Data post-processing software/algorithms (video, other)• Modeling and simulation• Autonomous systems software• Control stations (including human-machine interface

design, mission planning software)• Cloud or other data services

About UMS Producers

Almost all establishments expect expansion within next 24 months

Workforce sizes are either very big (100 +) or very small (<10 workers)

Largest occupational groups include (truncated list)• engineers• software & hardware developers• manufacturing & transportation workers

Workforce of UMS Establishments

R&D is fundamental• Most entities have at least some R&D budget• 27% aren’t selling but are investing in R&D

Budgets usually $500k or less

HEAVY focus on R&D • 5 establishments commit 100% of R&D budget to UMS

UMS Research & Development Activity

About Suppliers• UMS producing establishments do not have major

concerns about lack of suppliers• Suppliers include a diverse array of industries,

including (truncated list):• computer systems/software• aerospace• electrical/electronic components• engineering services• sales & marketing companies

Current purchasers are primarily public sector and expected future purchasers are primarily private sector

Current most frequent purchasing industries (truncated list):• Military• State & Local Governments• Engineering Services

Future most expected purchasing industries (truncated list):• boat building & maritime• education• ground transportation• retail & wholesale• aircraft parts manufacturing

About UMS Buyers

• Advocate for fewer/clearer regulations• Address public safety and public concerns• Maintain connection between creators and

suppliers• Develop and advocate for R&D grants

High Level Recommendations

Illustrations ofUMS Supply Chains

• All industries profiled include at least 1 establishment that self-identified as selling/providing UMS supplies or services

• Only enough data to assess 5 industry sectors• Doesn’t differentiate whether suppliers or

buyers are inside/outside Virginia

About the Supply Chain Charts

How to Read Supply Chain Charts

Prof

essi

onal

Se

rvic

es

Supplying Industries (LEFT) Buying Industries (RIGHT)

Thickness of arrow indicates # of votes

Computer Syst./Soft.

Military

Education

Aircraft/Space Mfg.

Supply Chain forAll UMS Services

All U

MS

Serv

ices


Aircraft/Space Mfg.

R&D/Consulting Svcs.

Elec. ManufacturingEngineering Svcs.

MilitaryAg./Nat. Resources

Sales/MarketingGround Transport.

Military

Engineering Svcs.

Education

Aircraft/Space Mfg.Ag./Nat. ResourcesGround Transport.Computer Syst./Soft.Boat Bldg./MaritimeGovernmentRetail/Wholesale

Supply Chain forProfessional/Scientific/Technical Svcs.

Prof

essi

onal

Ser

vice

sAircraft/Space Mfg.

Elec. Manufacturing


Engineering Svcs.

Metal/Wood/Plastics

Sales/Marketing


Military

Engineering Svcs.

Military

Aircraft/Space Mfg.

Education


Ground Transport.

Government

Supply Chain forLogistics Industry Suppliers

Logi

stics

Indu

stry


Aircraft/Space Mfg.

Engineering Svcs.



Aircraft/Space Mfg.

Ag./Nat. Resources

Retail/Wholesale

Engineering Svcs.

Boat Bldg./Maritime

Ground Transport.

Education

Military

Supply Chain forState/Local/Fed. Gov. (incl. Military)

Gov

ernm

ent


Military

Aircraft/Space Mfg.

Metal/Wood/Plastics

Elec. Manufacturing

Engineering Svcs.

Ground Transport.

Engineering Svcs.

Military

Ag./Nat. Resources

Ground Transport.

Education

Supply Chain forManufacturing

Man

ufac

turin

g


Aircraft/Space Mfg.

Metal/Wood/Plastics

Ag./Nat. Resources

Supply Chain forInformation

Info

rmati

on


Elec. Manufacturing

Boat Bldg./Maritime

Government

Overview of SurveyQuestions & Answers

Yes

No, but we are conducting research, development, testing & evaluation (RDT&E)

No, but we intend to do so in the near future

No, and we do not intend to in the near future

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

62%

26%

3%

9%

1. Are you currently selling UMS supplies/services?

Yes

No, but doing R&D

No, but have future plans

No

Survey targeted Virginia-based institutions

10 responses:• 8 Virginia• 2 non-Virginia

2. Where is your primary location?

2. Where is your primary location?

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Other (please specify)

State, Local or Federal Government (including Military)

Manufacturing

Educational Services

Transportation and Warehousing

Information

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

39%

18%

14%

11%

11%

4%

4%

3. What is your primary industry classification?

Professional/Scientific/Tech. Svcs.

Other

State/Local/Fed. Government

Manufacturing

Educational Services

Transportation/Warehousing

Information

3. What is your primary industry classification?

Other:• Flight Services and Consulting• Training and Support• UAS Runway on Wallops• FAA UAS Test Site

1-5 workers

6-10 workers

11-25 workers

26-100 workers

101 or more workers

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

23%

23%

0%

23%

31%

4. How many employees do you have?

1-5

6-10

11-25

26-100

>100

Yes;

85%

No;

4%

Unsure; 12%

5. Do you plan to hire in the next 2 years?

1-5 workers

6-10 workers

11-25 workers

26-100 workers

101 or more workers

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

46%

23%

8%

15%

8%

6. How many do you anticipate hiring in the next 2 years?

1-5

6-10

11-25

26-100

>100

0% 1-5% 6-10% 10-25% 100%0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Num

ber o

f Obs

erva

tions

Mean = 16%Median = 5%

7. How many new employees will work on UMS products & services?

Engineers

Software & Hardware Developers

Manufacturing & Transportation


Sales, Marketing, & Promotions

Administrative & Legal

Office Support (e.g. administrative assistants, accounting, IT)

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

34%

29%

27%

26%

17%

14%

7%

Mean of Observations

8. What % of your UMS employees work in each area?

Engineers

Software/Hardware Developers

Mfg./Transportation

Other

Sales/Marketing

Admin./Legal

Office Support

*Other (please specify)

Lack of Demand for Products or Services

Technological/Innovation Issues

Access to Skilled Workforce

Lack of Suppliers

0 1 2 3 4 5

(5=biggest, 1=smallest, 0=not constraining to you)

9. What are your primary growth restraints?

Other

Lack of Demand

Tech./Innovation Issues

Access to Skilled Workforce

Lack of Suppliers

9. What are your primary growth restraints?

Other:• Regulatory/policy issues• Lack of capital/funding• Access to legal UAS flight

10. Rank the types of UMS customers you expect 10 years from now.

Boat Building & Maritime (Non-Military)

*Other (please specify)

Education

Ground Transportation (automobile or other)

Retail & Wholesale (direct to consumer)

Aircraft & Aircraft Parts Manufacturing (Non-Military)

Computer Systems & Software

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Engineering Services

Military

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.5

7.0

6.6

6.3

5.8

5.0

4.8

4.3

4.0

3.7

(5=biggest, 1=smallest)

Boat building/maritimeOther

EducationGround transportation

Retail/WholesaleAircraft/Parts Mfg.

Computer Systems/SoftwareAgricultural/Natural Resources

Engineering ServicesMilitary

10. Rank the types of UMS customers you expect 10 years from now.

Other:• First Responders• Utilities—inspection, surveillance• Government agencies• Business enterprise• Civil infrastructure• Public services• Organizations looking to fly medium-size UAVs• Infrastructure inspection

$0 - $999,999

$1 millio

n - $9.99 m

illion

$10 millio

n - $49.99 m

illion

$50 millio

n - $250 m

illion

Greater than $250 m

illion

012345678

11. What was your revenue last year?

$0- $1 mil- $5 mil $50 mil- >$250 1 mil 5 mil 50 mil 250 mil mil

None

$1 - $500,000

$500,001-$1 millio

n

$1,000,001- $10 m

illion

$10,000,001 - $100 m

illion

Greater than $100 m

illion

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

12. What was your R&D budget last year?

$0 $1- $500K- $1 mil- $10 mil >$100 500K 1 mil 10 mil 100 mil mil

1-25% 26-50% 50-75% 75-100%*0

1

2

3

4

5

6 Mean = 64%Median = 90%

13. What % of your R&D budget goes to UMS?

Sensors

Data post-processing software/algorithms (video, other)

Modeling and simulation

Autonomous systems software

Control stations (including human-machine interface design, mission planning software)

Cloud or other data services

Sense and avoid systems (sensors + algorithms for external hazard avoidance)

Vehicle components (batteries, motors, other)

Advanced Manufacturing

Vehicle health prognostics

Cyber security

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

70%

70%

70%

65%

60%

50%

45%

45%

25%

20%

20%

14. What technologies do you use for UMS production or R&D?

SensorsData software

Modeling/simulationSystems software

Control stationsCloud/data services

Sense & avoid systemsVehicle components

Advanced manufacturingVehicle health prognostics

Cybersecurity

Overcoming regulatory barriers

Secure communication between vehicle and ground station

Cultural beliefs and concerns

Safety of people and equipment around UMS vehicles

Tracking & guiding of UMS vehicles in telecommunication limited areas

Access to infrastructure and test sites

Cost of UMS development

Vision capabilities of UMS vehicles

Access to talented workers

Software availability and applicability

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

4.33.4

3.13.03.0

2.92.52.42.4

2.2

15. What barriers to UMS development concern you?

(5=most concerned, 1=least concerned, 0=don’t know/not sure)

Regulatory barriersSecure communication

Cultural concernsSafety around UMS vehicles

Tracking/guidingAccess to infrastructure

Cost of developmentVision capabilities of vehicles

Access to talented workersSoftware availability

15. What barriers to UMS development concern you?

Other:• Unfriendly Legislative Environment• Government LPTA Policies• Lack of Federal/State Funding


Aircraft/Space & Aircraft Parts Manufacturing

Electrical & Electronics Manufacturing


Metal, Wood or Plastics Parts Manufacturing

Military

Research & Development Services, and Consulting Services



0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

62%

54%

54%

38%

31%

31%

23%

23%

8%

16. What types of suppliers do you use for UMS products & services?

Computer Systems/Software

Aircraft/Space Mfg.

Electrical/Electronics Mfg.

Metal/Wood/Plastics Mfg.

Military



Other

Ground Transportation

16. What types of suppliers do you use for UMS products & services?

Other:•Marketing Organizations•Sales & Marketing

Military


Education

Aircraft/Space & Aircraft Parts Manufacturing

Agriculture & Natural Resources



Boat Building & Maritime


Retail & Wholesale (direct to consumer)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

69%

62%

38%

23%

23%

23%

15%

15%

15%

8%

17. What types of UMS customers do you currently have?

Military


Education

Aircraft/Space Mfg.

Ground Transportation

Agriculture/Natural Resources

Computer Systems/Software

Boat Building/Maritime

Other

Retail/Wholesale

17. What types UMS customers do you currently have?

Respondents specified the following under “other”:

•State Government•Government (non-military)

Yes; 92%

No; 8%

18. Would you be willing to participate in an in-depth follow-up interview?

Linda FowlerProprietor, Regionerate

[email protected]

Brian PointsDirector of Consulting Services, EMSI

[email protected]

Contact Us

Documents

Contents About the Survey Conclusions & Recommendations Illustration of UMS Supply Chains Overview of Survey Questions & Answers