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Scope

Unmanned Aircraft Systems - A new field for civil aerospace development and applications

The origin of this system

UAS - Unmanned Aircraft Systems What does it mean?

What we are talking about?

Emerged at the earliest ages of aviation. During the World War II were done a few tests.

For the last decades the system was developed only for military proposes.

Possibilities: Quick response

Low Risk (no crew inside) Information and control on site …

Challenges: Reliable Equipment, All Weather Use, Regulation, Lower Cost …

Applications: Search and Rescue Operations

Land & Sea Monitoring …

Introduction (I)

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What’s an UAS ?

Source: Google pictures

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An Unmanned Aircraft is a pilotless aircraft

which is flown without a pilot-in-command-on-

board.

Remotely and fully controlled from

another place (ground, another

aircraft or ship)

Programmed and fully autonomous

Other designations: Drone, RPV (remotely piloted vehicle), UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle or unmanned air vehicle), UAV system and many others

The term Unmanned Aircraft System is now preferred by the sector because it covers the flying vehicle itself and all the components necessary to accomplish the mission objectives.

Introduction (II)

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Origin & History

The concept of pilotless aircraft is not new it started in mid 1800’s when Austrians launched pilotless balloons (mounted with bombs) against the city of Venice.

The innovation of UAS has we see today started in the early 1900’s used to train target practice - on the military field.

Later on the World War I there were some trials with remote-controlled airplanes

Technology rush during the World War II to train antiaircraft gunners and to fly

attack missions. Specially the Nazi German produced and

used various UAV aircraft

Later on with the concerned about loosing pilots over hostile territory U.S. started planning the use of unmanned flights for aerial reconnaissance,

intelligence and surveillance work

On the last decades the UAS as been used as a weapon Production of geographic knowledge and surveillance,

target acquisition and missile launching.

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Potential Applications: Ground Traffic Surveillance

Motorway Road Traffic Collision Land and Sea Search and Rescue Missions

Fire Fighting and many more…

Could we give this technology a better propose ?

For sure we will!

Source: Google pictures

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Potential Advantages & Benefits

Worldwide people are being innovative, creative and using their imagination to capitalize on what “can” UAS offer

Mobile – easy do move, deploy, launch and recover

Inexpensive - compared to other means

Quick response – faster and safety

Absence of human risk - no crew inside

Reduce human life exposure – long, dull, dirty or

dangerous missions

High degree of controllability – from operational

centres

Control and information - on real time

….

Protection of the environment

Noise abatement Reduced fuel

consumption and CO2 emission

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Substitute or Complementary

Depending on the missions UAS could work independently and they are costless and

even more efficient

After a forest fire the UAS could work at night with thermic

sensors

Motorway accidents the traditional rescue sources will provide better help. However the

UAS could operate also to assist the traffic control and management

For starting first aid in case of accidents traditional rescue

could operate faster

To help on Search & Rescue operation on Land or sea UAS could get into places and

with details (zoom and time to look up) that other means will not be able to.

In sea by the rocks or in land on narrow

places

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Obstacles & Risks to UAS Development

Political Issues

No harmonised rules and standards – absence of legal framework

Lack of training and licencing requirements

Lack of airspace access Common certification processes and

standards

Need to rely heavily on communication, navigation & surveillance technologies Ensure safety, efficiency, security,

reliability to integrate airspace Flight operations must be transparent to

other airspace users and air traffic controllers - Detect, Sense & Avoid

Source: Warmerdam, J., Buuren, G ten. (2010)

Technical Issues

Ensure safety under lost link condition - safely terminate flight when loss of

control occurs!

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Bibliography

Corner, A. (2011). Breaking down the barries to UAS deployment. London: UAS Forum.

European Commissiom TREN F2/LT/GF/gc D. (2009). Hearing on Light Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Directorate-

General for Energy and Transport - Directorate F - Air Transport.

Shaw, Ian G.R. (2013). The Rise of the Predator Empire: Tracing the History of U.S. Drones. Understanding Empire.

U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Aviation Admnistration. (2013). Integration of Civil Unmanned Aircraft

Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) Roadmap. U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal

Aviation Administration.

Valavanis, Kimon P. (2013). Special Issue on Current Developments and State-of-the-art in Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems, Volume 69, Issue 1-4, pp 3-4.

VOLPE - National Transportation Systems Center. (2013). Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) - Service Demand 2015-

2035, literature Review & Projections of Future Usage. U.S. Department of Transportation - Research an

Innovative Technology Administration.

Warmerdam, J., Buuren, G ten. (2010). Use of UAS within the Duth police. Presentation on European High Level UAS

Conference. Brussels.

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Questions & Answers

Thank you for your attention