Introduction to Unmanned Systems

Unmaned Systems.

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Introduction to Unmanned Systems

➢Today unmanned systems have been increased on importance especially in the ArmyForces, and are been used extensively by the US Department of Defense (DoD) in different scenarios such as Iraq and Afghanistan with great success; also by the European Allies.

➢Since a few years ago, an increasingly importance have been given to the use of unmanned systems by different Industries especially in marine environment, Law Enforcement Agencies in dealing with criminal organizations, environmental monitoring and agriculture among other applications.

Introduction (Continued)

➢Unmanned vehicles can be divided into four categories: Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs or UAS), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs).

➢These vehicles that are used by the DoD have different degrees of autonomy: remotely operated vehicle (ROV), semi-autonomous, which have certain degree of autonomy but remain supervised and fully autonomous vehicles.

➢Currently research is going on having vehicles with higher level of autonomy and also on cooperative systems, i.e. having a team of two or more vehicles doing especial missions or tasks.

Introduction (Continued)

Before and in World War II:

➢RP-1 US Army, RP-2 to RP-4 (target drone), Radio OQ-2, 1935-1939

➢Nazis developed a UAV for nonmilitary targets. Revenge Weapon 1, an unmanned flying bomb (V-1),

-speeds of almost 500 mph (804 km/h),

-carry 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) of explosives,

-travel 150 miles (241 kilometers)

-wingspan: 20 feet (6 m), long : 25 feet (7.6 m)

Introduction (Continued)

➢In the 1960s and 70s -US flew more than 34,000 surveillance flights using the AQM-34 Ryan Firebee, a UAV launched from a host plane and controlled by operators within that plane.

➢In the late 1970s and 80s -Israel developed the Scout and the Pioneer, which represented a shift toward the lighter, glider-type model of UAV in use today. The Scout was notable for its ability to transmit live video with a 360-degree view of the terrain.

➢1960-80’s -Remote Piloted Vehicle (RPV) : Pilot in the loop, had near-real time control of aircraft and flight surfaces

➢1990’s -Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): Pilot on the loop, beginning of automation, pilot can take over if necessary. Predator (MQ-1), Reaper (MQ-9), General Atomics