The Application of Manned Aerial Vehicles on Warzones - Term Paper Example

Table of contents Current Uses and Future Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 2 Outline 2 Introduction 3 Military use of UAVs 4 Benefits of military use of UAVs 5 Increase funding of UAVs 7 Public Surveillance 8 Transport of cargo 10 Air To Air Combat 10 Rescue and Provision of Safety to Civilians 11 Conclusion 11 Current Uses and Future Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Outline I. Introduction i. Definition of UAVs ii. Military and surveillance use iii. Thesis: the current use of UAVs and future applications II. Background i. Brief history of the development of UAVs III. Current applications of UAVs i. Military a. Secure b. Used by the U.S ii. Advantages a. Perform well in risky environment b. Cheaper iii. Funding of UAVs a. Increase funding of UAVs R&D IV. Public surveillance i. Border patrols by the police ii. Cheaper technology V. Future application of UAVs i. Advance UAVs in future ii. Cargo transport iii. Air to air combat iv. Applicable in rescue missions VI. Conclusion i. Current applications a. Military and public surveillance for safety purposes. ii. Future application a. Replacement of manned flights b. Development of advanced UAVs in future with human intelligence Introduction Some people might argue that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) technology was developed recently. However, it is quite surprising that UAVs was first developed and used before the application of manned aerial vehicles on warzones. Unmanned aerial vehicle is an aerial vehicle specifically designed for use without the need of a pilot. Unmanned aerial vehicle is widely known as a drone. Drones are mostly used in the military zones by the U.S. and other developed states to provide surveillance for troops on the ground. The types of UAVs used in combat zones are armed with missiles, cameras, laser, infrared and other relevant, sophisticated technologies. However, drones are also applied in other non-combat places. For example, UAVs are used for border patrols in the United States. UAVs were first used prior to the use of piloted aerial vehicles. Araz (2006) wrote that UAVs were first developed by Charles Perley on February 1863 for combat purposes. The first UAVs were less sophisticated than the current drones. It was fitted with a hot air balloon and explosives. The explosives would explode after a specific time. The use of UAVs continued with the development of aerial kite in 1895 by William A. Eddy. The kite was used to take ground photographs. The U.S government took the idea during the Spanish-American war in1898. UAVs technology was also used in previous World Wars and the Vietnam War. The current UAVs have highly sophisticated technology and high-tech cameras capable of taking pictures day and night. There are several benefits of drones to both civilians and the military. However, some have argued that drones are less beneficial to civilians. This essay will argue that the use of UAV is beneficial to military and civilians. This essay will first look at the previous uses of UAVs by the military and controversies caused by the use of drones. The second part of the easy provides the benefits of drones to the military. The third and the last parts are the use of drones for public surveillance, future applications of UAVs and the conclusion. Current applications of UAVS Military use of UAVs Unmanned aerial vehicles are used in most developed countries for surveillance and military zones. The move by developed countries to unmanned aerial vehicles is because of UAVs capabilities in places that are considered unsafe to the pilot. The technological developments have led to a move from manned aerial vehicles that were used in the 20th century to UAVs. United States has the highest number of military drones used in parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. According to BBC News (2012), the U.S. military UAVs are regularly used in parts of Pakistan to target and strike militants. The U.S has successfully used and hit militants and terrorists with drones in parts of Asia. However, some people, nations and human rights activist have argued that UAVs are weapons of mass destruction. According to the reports by the BBC News (2012), drone strikes in parts of Pakistan have led to the death of both civilians and the militants. Additionally, opponents argue that armed UAVs do not separate the terrorist from the innocent civilians. However, the argument is quite refutable because UAVs monitor the target clearly before engaging. Furthermore, in case the enemy realizes and shots it down, there is absolutely no worry about the pilot capture since it has no pilot. UAVs are considered safe and its use is still on by the U.S. and other nations. Additionally, UAVs have carried quite a number of counterterrorism operations as illustrated on the graph below. Some of those operations were successful and so its use should not be opposed. The Bureau (2012) retrieved from Benefits of military use of UAVs UVAs offer more advantages far more than manned aerial vehicles. According to Araz (2006), UAVs do not have psychological effects because it is a machine. Conversely, manned aerial vehicles can be easily affected by human psychology and so the mission affected. Nonami et al. (2010), explains that UAVs is vital because of it capability to work in a risky environment. Drones can be used for surveillance and reconnaissance in some places considered risky for other planes to take charge. It is evident based on the above ideas that UAVs are beneficial to the military applications. The low risk involves with the use of UAVs and the capability to attain the success of the mission has prompted more research and development on UAVs. Additionally, the favour by economic, technological and political factors has increased research, development and utilization of UAVs. The current technology makes it easy to obtain high-tech tools such as sensors, microprocessors and small lighter propellers. Such tools increase efficiency, endurance and far more capabilities than a human being. Additionally, researchers and developers of drones have been encouraged by the success of UAVs in some of the missions has been applied. The two factors above, the cost and the success of UAVs in missions makes it the most suitable tool currently. Additionally, Nonami et al. (2010) shows that the low cost involve and the success of UAVs have prompted nations such as the US to use such technology and increase funding of UAVs research and development. The factors indicated above such as cost and safety measures associated with drones makes it the most favourable technology in the military currently. The chart below indicates R&D cost of UAV in 2002. Nonami et al. (2010) Increase funding of UAVs Research by Nonami et al. (2010) indicates that UAVs can successfully operate in risky environments for manned planes to operate. Drones operate successfully in both high and lower latitudes far much better that manned planes. The above factors make UAVs the most favourable defence and surveillance technology. A number of studies show that the market of UAVs is likely to expand more in future due to the factors such as minimal cost and lower risks. Nonami et al. (2010), shows the budgetary spending in the next ten years on UAVs is likely to triple to $55 billion. The future projections indicate expansion of R&D of UAVs by the U.S. to $16 billion. Conversely, European countries will likely expand UAV market to $3 billion. Technologies of UAVs application in the military are more due to high benefits, resulting to more research and development. Thisdell (2011) wrote that the U.S. will likely increase spending on UAVs far more than defense spending. Additionally, the global procurement and R&D on UAVs is likely to double by the year 2020. However, the current research and development of UAVs by the U.S. is approximately 77% of the total global R&D. This is much higher than global defense R&D which is approximately 64%. In addition, the procurement of UAVs currently in the U.S. is at 64%. It is much higher compared to defense procurement which is at 34%. The chart below indicates the projection on UAVs expenditure. Increasing funding of research and development of drones clearly indicates that UAVs provide more benefits to the military. Thisdell (2011) retrieved from http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uav-market-set-to-double-354759/ Public Surveillance UAVs were previously thought as the technology for military use only, however this idea has changed. Police currently use drones for surveillance and border patrols in the U.S. Conversely, opponents argue uses of UAVs for commercial purpose are likely to be abused. There argument is based on the fact that UAVs goes beyond borders abusing privacy of the population. UAVs are likely to be abuse if allowed for commercial use. The argument is quite true. However, the police should be allowed to use UAVs technology in fight of crime. For example, UAVs are used by the police in the borders close to Mexico in the United States. It is a UAV fitted with video cameras and it can work both day and night. Drones could also be used in places with high crime rate and so it could led to significant reduction of crime at lower cost. According to Lye (2012), the cost of UAVs is 1/30 of the total expenditure on helicopter that cost $3 million. This clearly indicates the benefits of UVAs to the public and the need to make use of it. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is still restricting commercial use of UAVs because of abuse of privacy. The border patrols are the only agencies in the US that are allowed to use UAVs apart from the military (Welch 2014). However, according to Marks (2012), the US Federal Aviation Administration restrictions on unmanned aerial vehicles will soon change. The government agency will change the law to allow the operation of both commercial and private drones in United States. This also goes in line with the agreement met on February 9 regarding the operation of UAVs and assurance of safety to the population. The agreement was made on the meeting in Brussels by European commission of unmanned aircraft systems. Commercial use of drones is quite significant and beneficial to any firm using it. For example, Nonami et al. (2010), indicates that the Japanese agricultural firms uses drones for spraying. This shows the benefits of UAVs applications without employing manned machines. Future Applications of UAVs UAVs as indicated on the study are piloted on the ground or programmed to fly. According to Langelaan and Nicholas Roy (2009), current drones are considered too risky in some environments such as places with a high number of civilians. Additionally, quite a number of UAVs are still piloted remotely and cannot perform a certain task without raising alerts. However, the disadvantages of UAVs have led to even more research and development of small drones referred to micro air vehicles, MAVs. The cost of development of MAVs is less compared to UAVs. They are also small and light with the gross weight of 0.5kg and wingspan of 15cm. The advantage of MAV is that it can complete a mission successfully without causing any alarm. Its application is significant in a forest where the operators need to collect information without disturbance of inhabitants. Additionally, MAVs is considered stealth technology and it is vital in military surveillance and reconnaissance. Research is on to make MAVs act like human beings. MAVs will be more sophisticated flying robots in most places. They will be able to recognise obstacles and evade them. Additionally, they will also be able to locate openings in buildings such as windows and make use of it. This will solve the problem of collision that is quite common with the current drones. Transport of cargo UAVs as the name indicate do not carry passengers or a pilot. However, the future UAV is likely to be modified to carry cargo to different locations. The cost and efficiency are some of the factors that could see the move to unmanned aerial vehicles for cargo transport. Based on the size of UAVs, they are likely to transport cargo of less weight required only for the tactical reason (Araz 2006). Air To Air Combat UAVs are currently used by the military to attack ground targets; this view is likely to change in future based on the current research and development. Chances are high for use of UAVs in the future for offensive and defensive air operations against the enemy’s aircraft or missiles. Drones will take charge of some air combat operations currently done by manned planes. UAVs as indicate on the study are piloted on the ground and so the future use of drones for air to air combat will see no risks of the pilot (Araz 2006). Rescue and Provision of Safety to Civilians Future UAVs will be useful in cases of natural disaster or hostage situation. Fire-fighters, rescuers, police force, will make use of UAVs in future to locate persons in unsafe situations. The fact is that some places are inaccessible by large aircraft such as helicopters. Additionally, in case of a hostage situation, small UAVs are quite useful because of its stealth capabilities (Villasenor 2014). Conclusion It is evident from the study that UAVs have existed for more than a century. However, with the advancement of technology, more sophisticated UAVs have been developed. UAVs have benefited the military in target and elimination of terror groups. Research and development of UAVs have recently increased; this is clearly indicated by the increased funding of UAVs’ projects by developed countries. UAVs are considered as a safe and cheaper technology; UAVs are controlled from the ground and so the pilot has no risks at all. Low risks involved make it the best technology in military zones. Additionally, research indicates that the cost of the development of UAVs is favourable. This makes it much better for use in surveillance of high crime places by the police. Commercial use of UAVs will soon be allowed in some countries like the U.S. due to high benefits involved as evident from the Japanese application of UAVs. Technological advancement, political factors and economic factors have boosted the R&D of UAVs. Research is underway and so advanced UAVs are likely to come out in the future. The future of UAVs looks good; the current research is likely to see more application of UAVs. UAVs are likely to replace manned cargo planes in the future. Additionally, high-tech UAVs with human intelligence are likely to be developed in the future. Based on the study, it is evident that UAVs application benefits both civilians and the military. References Araz, O, M, 2006, Incorporating Weather Systems in Cooperative UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Search: A Probabilistic Approach, ProQuest, New York. BBC News, 2014, Drones: What are they and how do they work?, viewed 6 July 2014 Langelaan, J, W, & Roy, N, 2009, ‘Enabling New Missions For Robotic Aircraft’, Science, vol. 326, pp. 1642-1644. Lye, L, 2012, Easily Abused, Domestic Drones Raise Enormous Privacy Concerns, viewed 11 July 2014 < https://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty-national-security/easily-abused-domestic-drones-raise-enormous-privacy> Marks, P, 2012, ‘Drones take to the skies’, New Scientist, vol. 2850, pp. 20-21. Nonami, K, Kendoul, F, Suzuki, S, Wang, W. & Nakazawa, D, 2010, Autonomous Flying Robots; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Micro Aerial Vehicles, Springer, London. Thisdell, D, 2011, UAV Market Set to Double, viewed 6 July 2014 < http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uav-market-set-to-double-354759/> Villasenor, J, 2014, ‘‘‘Drones’’ and the Future of Domestic Aviation’, Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 102, No. 3, pp. 235-238. Welch, W, M, 2014, At Nations Doorstep, Police Drones Are Flying, viewed 6 July 2014 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/01/28/police-drones-tijuana-mexico/4951075/ Read More