Unmanned
aerial vehicles, abbreviated to UAV, are aircrafts that do not carry
human pilots on board. Also commonly referred to as drones, UAVs are
controlled by remote control, pre-programmed flight, or dynamic
automation systems. UAVs have been proved to be useful as they
are slowly being incorporated into use. Originally, drones were used
for military purposes, however they are also being used for policing,
firefighting, security work, and other jobs that are thought of as
too dangerous or mundane for humans.
The
first attempts at creating an unmanned aerial vehicle began in the
early 1900s with A.M. Low's “Aerial Target” and Hewitt-Sperry
Automatic Airplane. The United States first looked into creating
drones in 1959 when the Unites States Air Force feared losing pilots.
The first use of unmanned flight took place in the Vietnam War.
Although many UAVs were destroyed and expenses were high, they
continued to be used because pilots' lives were not at stake in case
the airplanes went down. In 2013, drones have been reported to be
used in at least 50 countries.
Typically,
there are six types of UAVs with different uses. “Target
and decoy, providing ground and aerial gunnery a target that
simulates an enemy aircraft or missile. Reconnaissance, providing
battlefield intelligence. Combat, providing attack capability for
high-risk missions. Research and development, used to further develop
UAV technologies to be integrated into field deployed UAV aircraft.
Civil and Commercial UAVs, UAVs specifically designed for civil and
commercial applications.” (The
UAV)
And logistics,
UAVs specifically designed for cargo and logistics operation.
Not
only are drones used for military purposes, they can also be used for
a variety of other purposes. UAVs are used in remote sensing, “UAV
remote sensing functions include electromagnetic
spectrum sensors,
gamma ray sensors, biological sensors, and chemical sensors. A UAV's
electromagnetic
sensors typically
include visual
spectrum,
infrared,
or near
infrared cameras
as well as radar systems. 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.”
(Wikipedia) They can also be used for transportation and aerial
surveillance such as livestock
monitoring, wildfire mapping, pipeline security, home security, road
patrol and anti-piracy. Police forces are also using drones for
domestic police work. Aside from that, they have also been used for
scientific research, forest fire detecting, conservation, and as a
tool for search and rescue.
Some may argue that UAVs have a higher developmental cost and are not worth the extra money to make. However, this does not include the time and money spent in training a pilot. Using UVAs in the military also significantly reduces money spent on fuel and daily wear of the planes during practice runs. The total amount added together is less than the cost of a human piloted airplane.
Although UAVs
first created for military use, these unmanned vehicles are becoming more widely used
due to the fact that drones operate without a pilot on board. This
eliminates the risk of putting a human's life in danger. Not only are
drones being used for armed attack, they also provide a wide range of
other common uses from surveillance to policing.
"Unmanned Aerial Vehicle." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 July 2013. Web. 09 Mar.
2013.
Valdes, Robert. "How the Predator UAV Works." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks, Inc,
n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2013.
"The UAV - The Future Of The Sky." The UAV. The UAV, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.
