seruriermarshal
05-31-2004, 08:18 AM
Use of drones has growing potential
TUAV: Unmanned planes could be used in Arctic research, fisheries patrols.
By RACHEL D'ORO
The Associated Press
(Published: May 29, 2004)
Arctic research. Fisheries patrols. Homeland security.
Remote-controlled planes are taking on multiple roles in Alaska.
Four Army Shadow 200s will join the Stryker Brigade Combat team at Fort Wainwright this summer. And other Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are being put to work around the state, unburdened by the limits of sleep-dependent human pilots.
Researchers from the University of Colorado in Boulder just wrapped up their fifth winter of Arctic research at Point Barrow, using petite TUAVs made by Melbourne, Australia-based Aerosonde Ltd. This year Aerosonde also collected data for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta to study sea ice and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to measure gaseous mercury levels.
Company officials say its Arctic work has led to improvements in the 30-pound plane's ability to function in a harsh environment, collecting information with infrared cameras, sensors and other instruments.
"It's ruggedized the aircraft," said operations engineer Daniel Fowler. "The engine has been substantially upgraded because of our work up there. We've learned a lot about operating in Arctic conditions."
This summer the Coast Guard will test an extended-wing, commercial version of the Air Force Predator B around the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands for possible use in fisheries patrols. Other possible applications for the high-altitude Altair include search and rescue, drug enforcement and homeland security patrols, said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Carter at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C.
And because the agency is part of the Department of Homeland Security, it's also gauging how remote-controlled planes might be used to help authorities patrol vulnerable land infrastructure such as the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. The Coast Guard currently has no TUAVs and considers Alaska an ideal testing ground.
"If we can send pilotless planes to remote areas, that would extend our reach and give us lots of opportunities to do great things," Carter said. "That's why we're testing them, to see whether they would meet our needs."
The Altair, built by San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, will fly from the company's flight test facility at El Mirage, Calif., to King Salmon in mid-July. The route is being coordinated by Glen Witt at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.
The university's TUAV Technical Analysis and Applications Center is involved in research that could lead to safe integration of pilotless planes in the national airspace. Research plans include flying a long-endurance TUAV to Alaska, then Hawaii then back to New Mexico. That would allow testing in arid, Arctic and tropical environments in one mission, said Witt, a former air traffic expert with the Federal Aviation Administration.
In 10 years working with TUAVs, Witt has seen great advances in the planes, he said. But much research and testing must still be done. He envisions a time when planes will be able to sense and avoid obstacles, such as other aircraft, on their own.
"I see a lot of good technology going on out there," Witt said. "I think someday pilots and air traffic controllers will sort of serve as just monitors -- but I'm 67 and I'm not going to see that in my lifetime."
woot
TUAV: Unmanned planes could be used in Arctic research, fisheries patrols.
By RACHEL D'ORO
The Associated Press
(Published: May 29, 2004)
Arctic research. Fisheries patrols. Homeland security.
Remote-controlled planes are taking on multiple roles in Alaska.
Four Army Shadow 200s will join the Stryker Brigade Combat team at Fort Wainwright this summer. And other Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are being put to work around the state, unburdened by the limits of sleep-dependent human pilots.
Researchers from the University of Colorado in Boulder just wrapped up their fifth winter of Arctic research at Point Barrow, using petite TUAVs made by Melbourne, Australia-based Aerosonde Ltd. This year Aerosonde also collected data for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta to study sea ice and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to measure gaseous mercury levels.
Company officials say its Arctic work has led to improvements in the 30-pound plane's ability to function in a harsh environment, collecting information with infrared cameras, sensors and other instruments.
"It's ruggedized the aircraft," said operations engineer Daniel Fowler. "The engine has been substantially upgraded because of our work up there. We've learned a lot about operating in Arctic conditions."
This summer the Coast Guard will test an extended-wing, commercial version of the Air Force Predator B around the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands for possible use in fisheries patrols. Other possible applications for the high-altitude Altair include search and rescue, drug enforcement and homeland security patrols, said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Carter at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C.
And because the agency is part of the Department of Homeland Security, it's also gauging how remote-controlled planes might be used to help authorities patrol vulnerable land infrastructure such as the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. The Coast Guard currently has no TUAVs and considers Alaska an ideal testing ground.
"If we can send pilotless planes to remote areas, that would extend our reach and give us lots of opportunities to do great things," Carter said. "That's why we're testing them, to see whether they would meet our needs."
The Altair, built by San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, will fly from the company's flight test facility at El Mirage, Calif., to King Salmon in mid-July. The route is being coordinated by Glen Witt at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.
The university's TUAV Technical Analysis and Applications Center is involved in research that could lead to safe integration of pilotless planes in the national airspace. Research plans include flying a long-endurance TUAV to Alaska, then Hawaii then back to New Mexico. That would allow testing in arid, Arctic and tropical environments in one mission, said Witt, a former air traffic expert with the Federal Aviation Administration.
In 10 years working with TUAVs, Witt has seen great advances in the planes, he said. But much research and testing must still be done. He envisions a time when planes will be able to sense and avoid obstacles, such as other aircraft, on their own.
"I see a lot of good technology going on out there," Witt said. "I think someday pilots and air traffic controllers will sort of serve as just monitors -- but I'm 67 and I'm not going to see that in my lifetime."
woot