Evaluation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - Essay Example

Evaluation of unmanned aerial vehicles Introduction Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are aircrafts that do not require to be piloted by human beings; they do not have human pilots when they are in motion. Their flight is mostly guided by remote controls or by autonomously by computers. The typical launch and recovery of such vehicles is dependent on the capacity of an automatic function. The automatic function is dependent on some external operatives on the ground. Their main applications are military works and other special operations. In the modern days, they are used in different increasing numbers of civilian appliances. Such applications include policing, firefighting and other nonmilitary security related work. The nonmilitary surveillance works may include monitoring of pipelines for whatever uses they are made. The use of UAVs is favored by certain factors such as missions that are too dangerous, dirty, or dull such that a manned craft will not serve the purpose well. An unmanned vehicle will constitute ground stations and other components besides the actual aircraft. It is necessary to understand that unmanned aerial vehicle uses aerodynamic forces to produce vehicle elevation so that the vehicle can fly independently or be operated remotely. These vehicles have the features of being expendable or recoverable with the ability to carry deadly weapons or non-lethal payloads. The essay explores an evaluation of the current applications of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as reviewing the potential future applications of UAV technology. Because UAVs are cheap to make and manage, they have the potential of becoming the future means of delivering items. Evaluation of their use Unmanned aerial vehicles have come to serve in many areas under impending critical issues. For instance, they have extensively been used for military operations and also aerial surveying of crops. The filmmaking industries have also benefited greatly from these technologies since it facilitates aerial footage. It has become easier to evaluate rescue operations since these vehicles can be automated at various sites to assess the situations on the ground. Below is an evaluation of the uses of UAVs (Robert, 15 March 2004). The need to develop better ways of carrying out security operations boosted the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. The military specifically developed these technologies in order to come up with strategies of staying ahead of their opponents (Robert, 15 March 2004). The development of unmanned vehicles raised the feasibilities of states being able to conduct military operations. The main advantage of their application in the military operation is due to their efficient nature and less risky fashion, unlike the human piloted planes. Studies conducted by various researchers indicate that the UAVs have the capability of extending the military power of the state. Most of the researchers concluded that these vehicles can perform the tasks that pose numerous challenges to manned aircrafts. For example, the technologies have been found effectively to function well when it comes to attacking chemical warfare and biological warfare facilities (Pustam, 16). They are also very useful when it comes to suppressing enemy air defenses. The military technologies for building unmanned vehicles are not a new idea by any standards. The technology is dated back to the 20th century where many states were discovering the act of perfecting their military supremacy over the enemies (Nonami et al., 87). The main aims were to develop military technologies that could promote the reduction of risks to human combat. The other plans included performing military operations in more efficient and elaborate ways that will be less costly as opposed to manned vehicles. Most state military researchers attributed the fact that unmanned aerial vehicles freed machines from the limitations imposed by humans as a factor that would increase the efficiency and performance of the technologies. Even so, the researchers continue to develop the technologies in ways that will advocate less expense as compared to other ways (Nonami et al., 87). The UAVs have so far been proven to reduce the demand for the support of facilities that modern aircrafts require. Technological advancement in the manner of which flight control is done, data and signal processing, off-board sensors and communication links among others have created a link for the use of unmanned vehicles in bigger intensities. Most states, especially the United States have deployed the use of unmanned vehicles for military actions in order to reduce the exposure of its military personnel and citizens in lesser contingencies (Langelaan & Roy, 81). The development of UAVs, therefore, enables the military to carry out security operations in efficient ways. A military UAV in action Unmanned aerial vehicles have become increasingly applied technologies in many fields. They have also adopted several features that facilitate their usage in the modern world. Some of the characteristics include becoming smaller, more capable, and less expensive. The ease of usage has improved their extensive use in the filmmaking industries. They can be carried and transported in vehicles and launched at any place of convenience (Pustam, 17). They are fitted with cameras and sensors that are used for the provision of low-cost aerial information. In most of the developed states, the use of aerodromes for video imaging is permitted to the private sector (Nonami et al., 87). An analysis of the images produced by these technologies indicates a great difference from other ways of doing film works. Filmmakers acknowledge that creating quality images and films is a challenge in the industry. However, many acknowledge that the unmanned aerial vehicles fitted with cameras and sensors ease the process in bigger ways. The use of UAV technology is becoming more popular because of the advantages it presents in the industries (Pustam, 2003: 19). One advantage is that the technology has proven to be cheaper than all the other technologies. It has proven to break the constraints of needing big physical gears (cranes and dollies) in order to accomplish a filmmaking task. As much as the technology has been put to use, most researchers stipulate that the technology has only started to be put to use and that there are many dimensions to the technology. Its biggest values are realized when it is combined with tried and true fundamentals. Apart from filming, they are greatly helping in the policing of domestic works. Arial surveillance has become a major bust to the security of many nations (Langelaan & Roy, 2009: 82). They assist in carrying surveillance on suspects and making significant arrests as they are fitted with cameras that record and relays real-time events of a particular occasion. Because UAVs can take aerial photos and transmit real-time events, they have found applications in security surveillance programs and also the film industry. Unmanned aerial vehicles are extensively used for mapping purposes. They are mostly used for mapping in the close range domain using the combination of atmospheric and terrestrial photogrammetric (Nonami et al., 2010: 90). As such, the technologies have a great influence on the mapping sectors. They provide alternatives for mapping technologies in small-scale regions. They are heavily used in low-cost mapping plans with inexpensive budgets. They are so far very reliable and professional hence giving way for future large-scale use in the mapping area. The aerial vehicles are fitted with photogrammetric measurement systems such as video cameras, thermal or infrared cameras, (Hudson, 2009: 25) multispectral cameras and range sensor cameras among other devices that facilitate the mapping exercise. They are specially designed to assimilate all the calculations involved such that they can determine the trajectory through the use of global navigation system. They are provided with compass systems in order to detect directions (Pustam, 2003: 21). The main reason the technology is employed is because it is efficient, and the UAVs can locate any areas that are deemed inaccessible by other means. They are used to survey mountain areas, volcanic areas, and dessert areas. They are also used to assess the situations in accident scenes. These vehicles are very stable and can be operated autonomously. The other significant advantage for their use is the fact that they present a cost efficient method of doing things that are more reliable. Their mapping systems and mapping flows are similar to those of man-based aerial mapping systems (Hudson, 2009: 25). The UAV technologies use cadastre applications that are fitted with tachymeter and GNSS receivers. These instruments are developed in order to promote accuracy in mapping by use of aerial vehicles (Peck, 2003). The systems are fitted to measure object points and lines of symmetry. Cadastre surveying does not offer limited access to imaging as opposed to the traditional forms of mapping. The best example of UAVs mapping is the gravel pits. Aerial vehicle mapping is attributed for the many positive changes witnessed in the gravel pit mapping such as 3D models of information source. These information sources are used to calculate the volume changes over time hence help in the estimation of the gravel elements size (Carafano & Gudgel, 2007: 66). The technologies are also used for prevention and early detection of forest fires. The sensors and cameras are able to produce real-time emergencies hence facilitate security in most instances. Due to mapping devices and compasses fitted on the vehicles, they can provide accurate locations of the emergencies (Nonami et al., 2010: 92). Taking off for a surveillance mission Future applications based on current issues As much as the technology is used in the military operations, the UAVs are not yet made to withstand antiaircraft defenses. Recent reports indicate that the current UAVs are not so useful in contested environments (Lopez, 2003: 31). They require the intervention of a manned vehicle in order to offer protection to the unmanned vehicles. Even so, later reports indicate that in the future, UAVs may be able to carry out different functions beyond what they can do in the present. As such, the reports indicate that they are still underused in the surveillance sector and the intelligence sector. Other reports site that the future application of UAVs will allow for combat search and rescue, aerial refueling and air-to-air combat. Most researchers foresee UAVs bearing a more potential and significant place in the battle (Peck, 2003). They attribute the near future to maintain the position that will involve making sure that the technology will always be functional at all times. The future is predicted to include less technical issues and to solve the issues of human-UAV interactions. The future will also hold a broader capacity to manage the increased amount of information that will be availed by these technologies and transitioning from direct human control to UAVs-specific munitions. Future for military AUVs The private sector has also foreseen the future of the unmanned aerial vehicles. There were earlier initiatives to generate aerial vehicles that can carry food substances to various destinations (Lopez, 2003: 32). Even though the efforts were shut down by the FAA regulations, the future still holds a development of that technological progress. The barriers to future developments of aerial vehicle technologies in the private sector are continuously being minimized in order to give way for future developments in the technological advancements of aeronautical technologies. Such restrictions as state regulatory approval and public safety have continued to face revisions. Even so, such barriers have facilitated for technological progress that focuses on healthy interactions of AUVs and the environment (Peck, 2003). Future technologies will facilitate the delivery of goods such as medicine in emergency hit places in order to boost the levels of response for such cases. If such moves were to be effected, the future would hold better disaster management tools and strategies than the present (Carafano & Gudgel, 2007: 67). The United Arab Emirates is a model of a company that embraces the UAV technology to the future of its customers. It launched a plan to operate a fleet of UAVs for civilian purposes. The plans are to enable the UAVs to use the eye-recognition technologies and the fingerprint systems to deliver official documents such as ID cards, passports, and licenses to designated places in case of emergencies (Lopez, 2003: 35). Because UAVs can deliver items to various destinations cheaply, they have the potential of becoming the future means of delivery. Conclusion UAV technologies are broadly under use in many parts of the world. Unmanned aerial vehicles have become useful in assisting in many fields under impending critical issues. For instance, they have extensively been used for military operations and aerial surveying of crops. The filmmaking industries have also benefited greatly from these technologies since it facilitates aerial footage. It has become easier to evaluate rescue operations since these vehicles can be automated at various sites to assess the situations on the ground. Below is an evaluation of the uses of UAVs. As much as the technology is used in the military operations, the UAVs are not yet made to withstand antiaircraft defenses. UAVs have a great potential to influence the future developments in the world. References Carafano, J. & Gudgel, A. (2007) The Pentagon’s robots: Arming the future. Sydney: Allen and Unwin. Hudson, T. (2009). A Market Indicator: Unmanned Vehicles. Rockhampton: CQU Press. Nov- pg. 25. Langelaan, J.W. & Roy, N. (2009) Enabling new missions for robotic aircraft. Journal of Science Volume. Lopez, R. (2003) Avoiding Close Encounters of a UAV Kind, Unmanned Systems magazine, May/June 2003, pg 31. Marks, P. (2012) Drones take to the skies. Journal of Scientist Volume. Nonami, K. Kendoul, F., Suzuki, S., Wang, W. & Nakazawa, K. (2010) Autonomous Flying Robots; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Micro Aerial Vehicles. London Publisher: Springer Peck, M. (2003) Pentagon Unhappy About Drone Aircraft Reliability, National Defense Magazine, May. Pustam, A. (2003) The World Market for UAVs, Unmanned Systems, Nov/Dec 2003, pgs. 16-21. Robert, W. (15 March 2004) Closer Watch: U.S. Intends to Enhance Controls Over Missiles and UAV Technologies. Aviation Week and Space Technology. Read More