An Overview of UAS Technology, Current Research, and Perspective on Use Eric N. Johnson Lockheed Martin Associate Professor of Avionics Integration Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA National Conference of State Legislatures, All About Drones Atlanta, GA August 15, 2013
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Big military-derived/used surveillance / lethal force Commercial Agriculture Public Safety Hobbyists Just for Fun uav.ae.gatech.edu 2
Enabling New Missions Indoor Flight: 2D Laser-Aided Indoor Navigation http://uav.ae.gatech.edu/videos/q130807g1both_slamming.wmv uav.ae.gatech.edu 3
Enhancing Safety: Fault Tolerant Control: Simulated 50% Wing Failure http://uav.ae.gatech.edu/videos/ta1_091002c1_50percentdrop.wmv uav.ae.gatech.edu 4
Enhancing Safety: Vision-Based Tracking to Prevent Collisions with Other Aircraft http://uav.ae.gatech.edu/videos/simultest2_wmv.wmv uav.ae.gatech.edu 5
Enhancing Safety: Reducing Reliance on the Global Positioning System (GPS) Navigation system aided by camera looking at features in the environment http://uav.ae.gatech.edu/videos/g120124e1_visionbasedlanding.wmv uav.ae.gatech.edu 6
My Main Points 1. Rapidly falling behind as a nation due to poor policy choices 2. UAS/Drones should not receive special attention with regards to privacy 3. SUAS do create an issue with regard to trespass, the answer is a zoned model for airspace uav.ae.gatech.edu 7
1. Regulations and Policies are a Mess What is allowed depends on use and the differences are ridiculous Anything goes if recreational Commercial is effectively banned Public and Military severely restricted Federal preemption over all airspace, including between the blades of grass in your yard Regulations and policies are far behind and getting further behind Much more reasonable rules in countries like: Japan, England, Germany, Canada, Australia, etc. uav.ae.gatech.edu 8
2. Leave the word Drone or UAS out of your Privacy Laws If your privacy is being violated, then do you care if there is a person in the aircraft? or if it was just a person holding a camera? or if it was a hidden camera stuck to a tree? or a satellite? It is much easier/cheaper to follow someone around with a hand-held or fixed cameras; which is available/legal now is this a problem? If the concern is really about not wanting some little aircraft buzzing over your head, then uav.ae.gatech.edu 9
3. How Close Can They Get to My House? Jurisdictional problem: Federal government has asserted control of airspace to the ground However, SUAS operate in new airspace closer to the ground, which creates potential issues with regard to trespass, and area traditionally handled at state/local level FAA should control navigable airspace, approximately as that is currently understood for manned aircraft > 500 ft in rural and 1000 ft in urban areas or maybe lower, Lower near airports or during an emergency contingency Traditional FAA role remains the same within this sphere uav.ae.gatech.edu 10
3. How Close Can They Get to My House? Landowners, state/local governments should control airspace below this navigable airspace, with landowner permission being a cornerstone A SUAS in this airspace is similar to walking onto the property, necessitating warrants or considerations of trespass Landowners would control lowermost regions of the atmosphere, which would also allay many concerns about what they call privacy States that pursue this approach could receive immediate economic benefits from agricultural UAS applications (Japan example) uav.ae.gatech.edu 11
Extra Slides uav.ae.gatech.edu 12
Terminology Drones vs. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) vs. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) uav.ae.gatech.edu 13
Adaptive Flight, Inc. Hornet Micro 1 kg electric helicopter Joysticks or tablet used to place and point camera uav.ae.gatech.edu 14
China Wins Aerial Robotics Competition uav.ae.gatech.edu 15