2. Introduction
• An unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a
remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) is an aircraft that is
flown by a pilot or a navigator, without a human crew
on board the aircraft.
• UAV is defined as a powered, aerial vehicle that does
not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces
to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or be
piloted remotely, can be expendable or
recoverable, and can carry a lethal or nonlethal
payload
3. Classification
A. Functional Categories
1. Target and decoy
2. Reconnaissance
3. Combat
4. Cargo & Logistics
5. Research and development
6. Civil and Commercial UAVs
5. A. In terms of range/altitude
1. Handheld 2,000 ft (600 m) altitude, about 2 km range
2. Close 5,000 ft (1,500 m) altitude, up to 10 km range
3. NATO type 10,000 ft (3,000 m) altitude, up to 50 km range
4. Tactical 18,000 ft (5,500 m) altitude, about 160 km range
5. MALE (medium altitude, long endurance) up to 30,000 ft
(9,000 m) and range over 200 km
6. HALE (high altitude, long endurance) over 30,000 ft
(9,100 m) and indefinite range
7. HYPERSONIC high-speed, supersonic (Mach 1–5) or
hypersonic (Mach 5+) 50,000 ft (15,200 m) or suborbital
altitude, range over 200 km
8. ORBITAL low earth orbit (Mach 25+)
9. CIS Lunar Earth-Moon transfer
10. CACGS Computer Assisted Carrier Guidance System for
UAVs
6. 70K U-2
HAE
Global Hawk
60K
50K Heron 2
Altitude
Predator B
40K
30K
Medium
20K
Heron 1
Predator A
10K Eagle Eye, Fire scout,
Hunter, Pioneer
10
20
30
Tactical
Endurance (hours)
7. Functions
1. Remote sensing
• UAV remote sensing functions include electromagnetic spectrum
sensors, biological sensors, and chemical sensors. A UAV's electromagnetic
sensors typically include visual spectrum, IR, or near IR cameras as well as
radar systems.
• Other electromagnetic wave detectors such as microwave and ultraviolet
spectrum sensors may also be used, but are uncommon.
• Biological sensors are sensors capable of detecting the airborne presence
of various microorganisms and other biological factors.
• Chemical sensors use laser spectroscopy to analyze the concentrations of
each element in the air.
8. 2. Oil, gas and mineral exploration and production
• UAVs can be used to perform geophysical surveys, in particular
geomagnetic surveys where the processed measurements of the
differential Earth's magnetic field strength are used to calculate the nature
of the underlying magnetic rock structure.
• A knowledge of the underlying rock structure helps trained geophysicists
to predict the location of mineral deposits.
• The production side of oil and gas exploration and production entails the
monitoring of the integrity of oil and gas pipelines and related
installations. For above-ground pipelines, this monitoring activity could be
performed using digital cameras mounted on one, or more UAVs
3. Transport
• UAVs can transport goods using various means based on the configuration
of the UAV itself. Most payloads are stored in an internal payload bay
somewhere in the airframe. With fixed wing UAVs, payloads are often
enclosed in aerodynamic pods for transport.
9. 4. Scientific research
• Unmanned aircraft are uniquely capable of penetrating areas which may
be too dangerous for piloted craft. Aerosonde Pty Ltd. of Victoria
(Australia), designs and manufactures the 35-pound system, which can fly
into a hurricane and communicate near-real-time data directly to the
National Hurricane Center in Florida.
• Beyond the standard barometric pressure and temperature data typically
culled from manned hurricane hunters, the Aerosonde system provides
measurements far closer to the water’s surface than previously captured.
• UAVSI (U.K.)also produce a variant of their Vigilant light UAS (20 kg)
designed specifically for scientific research in severe climates such as the
Antarctic.
5. Search & Rescue
• UAVs will likely play an increased role in search and rescue. Optical sensor
and a synthetic aperture radar can be carried as payload.
• The Predator's SAR is a sophisticated all-weather sensor capable of
providing photographic-like images through clouds, rain or fog, and in
daytime or nighttime conditions; all in real-time.
10. 6. Armed attacks
• Predators, with high-precision zoom lens cameras, and video cameras with
both electric optic and infrared capability that can see at night, can lock on
a target for their two Hellfire missiles when they are so far away that the
target can neither see them nor hear them.
• Sensors bundled in the UAV also calculate wind speed, direction, and
other battlefield variables to gather all of this data into a firing solution.
This process is known as "painting the target." Once a target is painted,
the UAV can unleash its own missiles to destroy the target or send the
firing solution to other aircraft or ground forces so they can destroy it.
• Predators are 27 feet (8.2 m) long, have a wingspan of 48.7 feet (14.8 m),
and are 6.9 feet (2.1 m) high, and can fly at speeds up to 135 mph
(217 km/h) and at heights up to 25,000 feet (7,600 m). They can fly
400 nautical miles (740 km) to a target, loiter overhead for 14 hours, and
then return to their base.
• Reapers have a wingspan of 66 feet (20 m), and are 12.5 feet (3.8 m) high.
They can fly at speeds up to 300 mph (480 km/h), and at heights up to
50,000 feet (15,000 m), and can fly for 14–28 hours (14 hours fully loaded.
11.
12. Predator aviators have described Predator UAV remote pilot
piloting the aircraft as flying an station
airplane while looking through a
straw.
13. Components (USAF Predator)
• The Predator UAV is a medium-altitude, long-range aircraft that operates much like
any other small plane.
• A Rotax 914, four-cylinder, four-stroke, 101-horsepower engine, the same engine
type commonly used on snowmobiles, turns the main drive shaft. The drive shaft
rotates the Predator's two-blade, variable-pitch pusher propeller. The rear-
mounted propeller provides both drive and lift. The remote pilot can alter the
pitch of the blades to increase or decrease the altitude of the plane and reach
speeds of up to 135 mph (120 kts). There is additional lift provided by the aircraft's
48.7-foot (14.8-meter) wingspan, allowing the Predator to reach altitudes of up to
25,000 feet (7,620 meters). The slender fuselage and inverted-V tails help the
aircraft with stability, and a single rudder housed beneath the propeller steers the
craft.
• The fuselage of the Predator is a mixture of carbon and quartz fibers blended in a
composite with Kevlar. Underneath the fuselage, the airframe is supported by a
Nomex, foam and wood laminate that is pressed together in layers. Between each
layer of laminate, a sturdy fabric is sandwiched in to provide insulation to internal
components. The rib work of the structure is built from a carbon/glass fiber tape
and aluminum. The sensor housing and wheels are also aluminum.
15. • The edges of the wings are titanium and are dotted with
microscopic weeping holes that allow an ethylene glycol solution to
seep out of internal reservoirs and breakdown ice that forms on the
wings during flight.
• The Predator UAV uses run-of-the-mill mechanical systems. A 3-
kilowatt starter/alternator supplies the craft's electronics with
power; this is supplemented with auxiliary battery power. Forward
and aft fuel tanks house rubberized fuel bladders that are easy to
fill through gas caps located at the top of the fuselage. An operator
starts the engine by attaching the umbilical cord of a
Starter/Ground Power Cart to the aircraft's starter-control
connector, located in the ground panel on the outside of the plane.
An operator stops the engine by hitting a kill switch just behind one
of the wings on the side of the plane.
For the Engine
• The Predator's two fuel tanks combined carry up to 600 pounds of
95-octane to 100-octane reciprocating aircraft engine fuel.
• The Predator uses 7.6 liters of standard motor oil for lubrication.
• In addition to venting, conventional automotive antifreeze is used
to cool the engine.
• Two 8-pound, 14-amp-hour Ni-Cad battery packs are housed in the
fuselage for backup power in case the engine or alternator fails.
16.
17. 1. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) 25. Flight Sensor Unit
Antenna 26. Video Encoder
2. Inertial Navigation System/GPS 27. De-ice Controller
3. Ku-Band Satellite 28. Electro-Optical/Infrared
Communications Antenna Sensor/AN/AAS-52(V)1
4. Video Cassette Recorder Electronics Assembly
5. GPS Antennas (Left and Right) 29. Front Bay Payload Tray
6. APX-100 Identification Friend 30. Ice Detector
or Foe Transponder 31. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
7. Ku-Band Satellite Receiver/Transmitter
Communications Sensor 32. Nose Camera Assembly
Processor Modem Assembly
8. C-Band Upper Omnidirectional
Antenna Bracket
9. Forward Fuel Cell Assembly
10. Aft Fuel Cell Assembly
11. Accessory Bay
12. Engine Cooling Fan
13. Oil Cooler/Radiator
14. 914F Engine
15. Tail Servo (Left and Right)
16. Battery Assembly #2
17. Power Supply
18. Battery Assembly #1
19. Aft Equipment Bay Tray
20. Secondary Control Module
21. Synthetic Aperture Radar
Processor/AGM-114
Electronics Assembly
22. Primary Control Module
23. Front Bay Avionics Tray
24. ARC-210 Receiver/Transmitter
18. Future
• With the proliferation of remotely-operated and automated combat
units, the trend in military technology seems to be moving toward
missions carried out by automated warriors, with the flesh-and-blood
controllers battling safely from behind computer terminals.
• "Nano-drones" are now being developed for targeted killing, that are
about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) long, which like little killer bees will be able to
follow their target, even entering a room through an open window.
• Aerial refueling tanker drones are also being developed that will allow
these drones to refuel, without ever landing.
