UAS for Remote Sensing Myths and Realities 33rd International Symposium of Remote Sensing of the Environment Steve Wegener Bay Area Environmental Research Institute NASA Ames Research Center 6 May 2009

Outline  History of UAS as a Remote Sensing Platform  UAS Remote Sensing Mission Requirements  UAS as a Remote Sensing Platform expectations, expectations, institutional bias, institutional bias, authority to operate, authority to operate, command, control, and data communications, command, control, and data communications, reliability, reliability, contingency management, contingency management, staffing costs staffing costs  UAS as Airborne Science Platform Experience  Conclusions

Early Unmanned Aircraft The 1917 Kettering Bug was an aerial torpedo, the forerunner of what today is considered a UAV or a cruise missile. It was capable of striking ground targets up to 75 miles (120 km) from its launch point.

Ryan Firebee The Ryan Firebee was a series of target drones or unmanned aerial vehicles developed by the Ryan Aeronautical Company beginning in It was one of the first jet- propelled drones, and one of the most widely-used target drones ever built.

UAS as Remote Sensing Platform  Basic airborne imaging platform operational requirements for remote sensing include the following;  Stability enough to provide needed resolution and coverage;  Operational range / altitude sufficient to cover targets efficiently;  Payload capability sufficient to support imaging system and associated control-data-communications systems;  Operate safely;  Affordable- Cost effective

UAS as a Remote Sensing Platform Expectations,Expectations, Institutional biasInstitutional bias Authority to operate,Authority to operate, Command, Control, and Data Communications,Command, Control, and Data Communications, Reliability,Reliability, Contingency Management,Contingency Management, Staffing costsStaffing costs

UAS as a Remote Sensing Platform Challenges Institutional bias Institutional bias Authority to operate, Authority to operate, Command, Control, and Data Communications, Command, Control, and Data Communications, Reliability, Reliability, Contingency Management, Contingency Management, Staffing costs Staffing costs

UAS as a Remote Sensing Platform Challenges Institutional bias Institutional bias Authority to operate, Authority to operate, Command, Control, and Data Communications, Command, Control, and Data Communications, Reliability, Reliability, Contingency Management, Contingency Management, Staffing costs Staffing costs

UAS as a Remote Sensing Platform Challenges Institutional bias Institutional bias Authority to operate, Authority to operate, Command, Control, and Data Communications, Command, Control, and Data Communications, Reliability, Reliability, Contingency Management, Contingency Management, Staffing costs Staffing costs

Examples  Aerosonde  Vector P  Sierra  Ikhana  Global Hawk

Examples  Aerosonde  Vector P  Sierra  Ikhana  Global Hawk

Examples  Aerosonde  Vector P  Sierra  Ikhana  Global Hawk

Examples  Aerosonde  Vector P  Sierra  Ikhana  Global Hawk

Examples  Aerosonde  Vector P  Sierra  Ikhana  Global Hawk

UAS Issues and Challenges Acceptance in Airspace Acceptance in Airspace Cost Cost Reliability Reliability RF Spectrum RF Spectrum

CONCLUSIONS UAS are an emerging technology that holds great promise. While unmanned aircraft capabilities overlap with capabilities of manned platforms, the UAS niche will continue to be supporting needs that can’t be met by manned aircraft. This will continue until reliability and operational life cycle costs are comparable with manned aircraft.

NRC Decadal Survey The transition of airborne programs at NASA and NOAA from conventional aircraft to unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAVs) presents opportunities as well as risks. UAVs provide increased range and flight time and the ability to penetrate environments that might be too hazardous for piloted aircraft. However, issues of cost, reliability, software, and proximity to urban areas have limited the use of UAVs to demonstration missions. For now, conventional aircraft remain more reliable and more cost-effective for Earth sensing, and agencies need to ensure an appropriate balance between these two types of platforms.

UAS Today UAS Types, Operating Altitude, Endurance and Payload Capabilities U-2 70K 60K Global Hawk Heron 1 Predator A Heron 1 Predator A 50K 40K 30K 20K 10K Altitude Aerostar, Hermes, Sky Eye, Vigilante, Fire scout, Hunter, Aerostar, Hermes, Sky Eye, Vigilante, Fire scout, Hunter, Heron 2 Predator B Heron 2 Predator B Endurance (hours) Shadow 200 LALE LASE MALE HALE MAV VTOL

Thank you Steve Wegener NASA Ames Research Center, MS Moffett Field, CA