UAS Mission

Unmanned Aerial Systems refer to aircraft that fly autonomously without the need of a human pilot operating it onboard. An operator situated on the ground controls an unmanned aircraft system. An unmanned aerial system employs the use of aerodynamic forces in the provision of vehicle lift (Fahlstrom & Gleason, 2013). The design of an unmanned aerial system mission is significantly different from that of a manned aircraft. During the design and implementation of an unmanned aerial system mission, it is vital that several factors are put into consideration. To attain success during the implementation of a mission, a tremendous amount of planning is necessary before the execution of the mission. Critical categories during the design and implementation of an unmanned aerial system mission include studying the maps of the area, the definition of the specifications of the products, planning of the aerial imagery, selection of the procedures and personnel, estimation of costs and development of a delivery schedule (Grace, 2013).

Unmanned aerial systems have undergone major developments over the years, thereby expanding their use to applications other than the military. For instance, unmanned aerial systems can be used in the prevention and management of disasters. UAS can be applied in the management of natural disasters such as forest fires, earthquakes, and floods (Austin, 2013). They are essential in observing and analyzing disasters, as well as conduction of search and rescue missions. An unmanned aircraft can be used in the searching for survivors of an earthquake. In addition to search and rescue missions, UAS can be used in the gathering of information during other types of disasters such as oil spills in the ocean. UAS platforms are based on four main characteristics which include the following; range, flight altitude, endurance and the maximum weight capable of the aircraft during take-off. A broad classification of unmanned aerial systems divides them into four categories; micro and mini unmanned aerial vehicles (MUAV), medium altitude long endurance UAVs (MALE), high altitude long endurance UAVs (HALE) and vertical take-off and landing UAVs (Grace, 2013).

During disaster prevention and management, micro and mini unmanned aerial vehicles can be used. In Britain, the fire service of West Midland has employed the use of an MUAV to make observations regarding the development of fires. The MUAV was used to provide vital information on the progress of fires through thermal imagery. High altitude long endurance UAVs are also used in disaster management. In January 2010, a HALE unmanned aerial vehicle was used during an earthquake in Haiti to capture high-resolution infrared photographs of the scale of the disaster (Grace, 2013). Medium altitude long endurance drones have been used in the management of disasters as well. In 2004, during the Tsunami a medium-altitude UAV was used to search for missing people (Austin, 2013). The prevention and management of disasters, the high endurance of the aircraft coupled with its ability to make observations over an expansive area, is important. This is especially important for rescue missions at sea. UAVs equipped with thermal cameras make it possible to locate victims buried in debris and avalanches.

Carrying out UAV missions during disaster prevention and management offers several advantages. The flexibility of UAVs makes them more effective than manned aircraft, especially during an earthquake whereby the downdraft from a manned helicopter may be strong enough to collapse an unstable building. The diminutive sizes of UAVs enable them to be flown in proximity to the zone of disaster without endangering the lives of rescuers or survivors (Fahlstrom & Gleason, 2013). A legal challenge during a UAS disaster management mission is with regards to restricted airspace. If the disaster occurs within restricted airspace, it poses a legal challenge to operate the drone in that area. An ethical challenge is that using a UAV in a search and rescue mission is that if a rescued victim requires immediate medical attention, he or she would have to wait for medical assistance to arrive, which may lead to more fatalities.  

References

Austin, R. (2013). Unmanned aircraft systems (1st ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.

Fahlstrom, P. & Gleason, T. (2013). Introduction to uav systems (1st ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.

Grace, R. (2013). The Design and Planning of Monitoring, Reporting, and Fact-Finding Missions. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2365435