Unmanned Aerial Vehihicles for Development

"Unmanned aircraft: The fly's a spy," The Economist, November 1st 2007.

Excerpts:

"Having evolved from military use, drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are taking to the air in increasing numbers for public-service and civilian roles. They are being operated by groups as diverse as police, surveyors and archaeologists. A UAV helped firemen track the blaze that recently ravaged southern California. The most immediate advantage of a UAV is cost.....the development of unmanned aircraft has become a process of technological democratisation. Lightweight construction materials, engines, microelectronics, signal-processing equipment and navigation by global-positioning satellites (GPS), are all getting more sophisticated, smaller and cheaper. As a result, so have UAVs.

"A (military UAV, the) Predator, including ground equipment, costs around $8m. It is capable of operating in harsh conditions for more than a day.....it is more than likely being controlled by pilots working in shifts and sitting in front of a video screen thousands of miles away....Smaller, lighter and simpler (military) UAV reconnaissance systems are being developed for troops in the field. These can be hand-launched, which reduces the need for remote-control piloting skills. Landings can be as simple as cutting the engine once the UAV has returned from its pre-programmed mission, at which point it flutters down to earth on a parachute.....

Some hovering types can land automatically. One such device is made by Microdrones, a German company. Their flying machine looks like a small flying saucer with four rotor blades on stubby arms. It is not much bigger than the laptop computer used to program its flight and monitor what it is looking at. It can stooge around for about 20 minutes carrying video and infra-red cameras. Some police forces have started to try it out. Earlier this year British bobbies used one to keep an eye on a music festival, busting people for drug offences and catching others breaking into cars.

"Already, the technology is so easily available that you can build a basic UAV for around $1,000 from model-aircraft parts, the innards of a GPS unit and a Lego Mindstorms robotics kit—just as Chris Anderson has done. Mr Anderson, the editor of WIRED magazine, has set up a website for other DIY-makers of low-cost UAVs."

Comment: This is a technology that should have lots of applications in developing nations as it becomes more affordable. I am not so interested in the aeronautical technology of the vehicle, but in the use of such vehicles for remote sensing. It is a low cost addition to a technology system involving geographical information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) as well as remote vehicular control. In the United States it is being used by scientists, police, fire departments, and others. It should have applications in natural resource management, city and regional planning, agricultural management, public health (e.g. vector control), and other fields. JAD