Sunday, September 20, 2009

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Terminology

Hello again,

Let’s talk a bit about the terminology of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The history of UAS really starts back before World War I. Maybe one day a future post will go that far back into the past. The modern era of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) began in the 1960’s.

I first became involved with them back in the 1980’s when I conducted a frequency band study for the Pioneer program. I remember it was a competition between IAI Corporation and McDonnell Douglas. Pioneer was procured starting in 1985 as an interim capability to provide imagery for tactical commanders on land and at sea. It has now supported every major U.S. contingency operation to date.



Pioneer touching down on the runway

Back then the phrase was Remote Piloted Vehicle (RPV) when the pilot was “in the loop” and had near-real time control of aircraft and flight surfaces via a two way-radio link (including the return telemetry). Most pilot in-the-loop take-off and landing UAS use dual data-links and have low system delays (latencies) since the pilot is actively maneuvering the aircraft in (near) real time.

In the1990’s it became Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) at the urging of the FAA who wanted to include the pilot and emphasize the system aspect of UAS.

This is called pilot “on the loop” and the beginning of automation. Most flight profiles are pre-programmed before take-off. They can be modified in-flight if needed. The pilot can also take over in emergencies.

Pilot on-the-loop systems often only have single-thread LOS data-links and higher delays (latencies) can be tolerated because the pilot is not in real time control of the take-off or landing maneuvers.

What do you call your UAS???????????????????

Back next time.

Please see the links below for more information:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/marknlewellen

http://www.aticourses.com/unmanned_aircraft_systems.html

http://www.expertclick.com/9424/Mark_Lewellen.aspx

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