What are the design and implementation of a specific UAS mission (military, or civil)? Determine a specific subject mission, consider public use or emergency services as law enforcement, medical, rescue or fire related mission sets. In your response:
- Identify and discuss the particular mission you are highlighting for a UAS
- Select three platforms capable of performing the mission and obtain an appropriate reference citation for each
- Discuss any considerations relative to the mission and if they correlate to the performance of any related mission execution tasks
- Identify the benefits and challenges associated with performing the particular UAS mission you are highlighting
- Identify and discuss at least two legal and or ethical challenges to the specific mission you are highlighting
UAS Mission
Unmanned aerial
systems (UAS) have continuously proven that there are many missions that can be
completed in a more efficient manner than manned aircraft or by man on the
ground. With the number of UAS increasing within the United States, it is
inevitable that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will become part of the
National Airspace System (NAS) for commercial usage. One important field that
is utilizing UAVs is search and rescue operations. Search and rescue missions
can be dangerous for people moving through varying terrains. There will also be
instances in which search and rescue personnel cannot move through an area due
to obstacles blocking the path. Manned aircraft have been utilized for years
during search and rescue missions, but these operations can be incredibly
expensive and time consuming. Due to the size of manned aircraft, if multiple
aircraft are utilized, there must be distance between the aircraft. However,
with the small size of UAVs, many aircraft can be flown in an area searching
for a lost person. UAVs are expendable, cost less to operate than manned
aircraft, do not put pilots at risk, and can cover large areas in short amounts
of time.
UAVs
cost significantly less than traditional fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
Small UAVs are much more maneuverable and the video and images taken from the
camera can be sent to an analytical team for review. Small UAVs that are being
utilized for search and rescue operations have fewer operational risks and do
not directly put the pilot in danger during flight. UAVs can survey large
amounts of land in short periods of time and software has been developed that
allows the operator to track the flight paths already taken by the UAV. This
will prevent the operator from flying the same paths that have already been
searched. In addition to this software, the UAV normally has enough flight time
to scan large areas, especially if the operator flies the UAV in a sweeping
pattern. While ground crews can also be used during search and rescue
operations, a UAV can complete SAR operations quickly whereas ground crews
could take hours to find a missing person.
Many
UAVs can be utilized for search and rescue operations. For the purposes of this
research paper, the three UAVs that will be discussed are the DJI Phantom, the
Delta FW70 Fixed Wing UAV, and the Titan X8 heavy lift UAV. The DJI Phantom has
become a very popular UAV for hobbyists. Due to the battery life, the stability
of the UAV, and the clear resolution of the camera, the Phantom has many uses
beyond aerial photography. As of November 3, 2016, DJI and DroneSAR have come
together to develop a search and rescue application for first responders to
utilized during operations. The search and rescue application can stream live
videos and images from a standard or thermal camera to the incident command
center (DJI and DroneSAR, 2016). The software for the application has the
ability to tag specific areas of interest or the coordinates of a lost person
which will allow SAR personnel to locate the missing person. The application
also allows the operator to see the flight path of the UAV so that all patterns
are recorded and logged and areas will not be missed (DJI and DroneSAR, 2016). The
Phantom 3 has a max flight speed of 35 mph, utilizes GPS during flight, can ascend
at 11 mph, can descend at 7 mph, and has a max service ceiling of 19685 feet
above sea level (Phantom 3 Standard, n.d.).
Another
UAV that can be utilized for search and rescue operations is the Delta-FW70.
This UAV is 70 inches and has a delta wing configuration made from dense foam.
This UAV is durable and lightweight which means there will be longer flight
times, shorter landing distances, gentle touch downs, and easier maneuvers (UAV
Delta-FW70, n.d.). The FW70 can carry up to five pounds and the long wingspan
makes flying in gusty conditions much easier when compared to other smaller
UAVs. The FW70 was created to be an aerial remote sensing and mapping platform;
there are 4 payload bays and this feature allows for an oversized camera that
can take crystal clear pictures (UAV Delta FW70, n.d.). The Delta Wing FW70 is
a great candidate for search and rescue operations. Unlike vertical takeoff and
landing (VTOL) UAVs, the FW70 can cover a range of 600 acres in an hour on a
single battery. “It is fully capable of autonomous flight and includes a “Fly
By Wire” mode, as well as software for GPS, autopilot, mission planning, and a
telemetry system” (UAV Delta FW70, n.d., para. 6). With this technology, the
FW70 can cover large areas while sending the images and videos back to a
command center, allowing teams to analyze the information for missing persons.
The
final candidate for search and rescue operations is the xDrone Titan X8 Heavy
Lift UAV. The Titan X8 is a heavy lift UAV capable of carrying up to 6.5 kg
(14.33 pounds) and can fly at 14 m/s (31 mph) (xDrones Titan X8, n.d.). The wonderful aspect of this UAV is that the
Titan X8 can be used by search and rescue teams to carry lifesaving items such
as life vests in the event that people are in danger outdoors. The payload
levels also allow things such as food and water to be carried to people in
need. The Titan X8 utilizes GPS for easier flight and has an advanced on board
camera that can rotate 360 degrees for continuous views of the surroundings. This
function would be great to have during a search and rescue operation due to the
ability to completely search an area carefully. The Titan X8 can easily be
broken down and stored into a transport box. The Titan X8 can travel up to 3300
feet without any delay between the UAV and the control station (xDrone Titan
X8, n.d.).
The
big considerations for UAV usage during search and rescue operations will be
the weather. Manned aircraft can fly in gusty conditions while small UAVs can
easily be blown around by strong winds. Strong winds can make a search and
rescue operation difficult because the camera feed may be difficult to view. With
manned aircraft, gusty winds will make flight difficult, but manned aircraft
can handle the gusts better than a small UAV. Another advantage that manned
aircraft have over UAVs is the payload that can be carried on board. While the
Titan X8 can carry a payload up to 14 pounds, a manned helicopter can carry
more but could be in an area that prevents landings. However, UAVs have the
advantage of being smaller which means landing sites will be easier to reach.
The search and rescue teams could also deploy multiple UAVs to carry vital
supplies to a person in danger. Multiple UAVs would also make the search for a
missing person much easier. Overall, UAVs can prove to be marvelous tools for
search and rescue operations due to their small size, ability to carry
payloads, battery life, and the costs of UAV purchase compared to fuel for
manned flight. While there are challenges that will be faced such as weather,
communications problems, and the ability to carry small payloads, when multiple
UAVs are operated during search and rescue operations, missing people could be
found much faster than traditional manned flight.
UAVs
are not without their legal and ethical challenges. One potential legal and
ethical issue with search and rescue personnel utilizing UAVs for SAR
operations is the footage that is captured while searching for missing people.
There could be legal repercussions for uploading UAV footage because it could
potentially expose personal, sensitive, or graphic images (Hodapp, 2015).
People are already worried about their privacy with manned aircraft in the air.
With UAVs increasing in drastically, more people are likely to worry about the
levels of privacy when UAV footage is easily obtainable. Another legal issue
that must be addressed in the near future is altitude restrictions for UAVs,
particularly during search and rescue operations. Current regulations state
that UAVs shall not exceed an altitude greater than 400 feet AGL. What will
happen if SAR personnel need a UAV to operate at altitudes greater than 400
feet? Will the FAA write new rules that allow law enforcement and SAR personnel
to exceed the 400 foot altitude restriction in the event of an emergency? There
will also be issues that arise if the UAV must fly beyond the line of sight of
the operator. Current regulations require that UAVs be operated within line of
sight due to the lack of sense and avoid technology in the computer systems of
the UAVs. If the operator or SAR personnel cannot reach a person in trouble,
the UAV may need to be flown beyond the line of sight of the operator. If this
occurs, does the operator need the permission of the FAA to fly higher than 400
feet and operate the UAV beyond the line of sight? These questions will need to
be addressed in the future in order to get the full benefits from UAV usage for
search and rescue operations.
References
DJI And DroneSAR Bring Search And
Rescue App To First Responders. (2016, November 3). Retrieved from http://www.dji.com/newsroom/news/dji-and-dronesar-bring-search-and-rescue-app-to-first-responders
Hodapp, P. (2015, December 15).
Search and Rescue Teams Aim to Save Lives with Drones. Retrieved from
http://makezine.com/2015/12/15/search-and-rescue-teams-aim-to-save-lives-off-the-shelf-drones/
Phantom 3 Standard - Specs, FAQ,
manual, video tutorials and DJI GO - DJI. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dji.com/phantom-3-standard/info
UAV Delta-FW70 Fixed-Wing UAV.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hse- uav.com/delta_fw70_fixed_wing_uav.htm
xDrones Titan X8 Heavy Lift (RTF).
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dslrpros.com/dslrpros-titan-x8.html
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