UAV

          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.

Works Cited

"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.