UNSY 501, Assignment 9.3, Future Unmanned Systems Impact

Future Unmanned Systems Impact

The unmanned systems that will have the most impact on society over the next two decades are unmanned aerial systems (UAS).  The rapid developments and proliferation of UAS have been profound over the last several years.  Projections for impressive growth in the market and applications for these platforms are expected in the near and long term future.

            UAS employment in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) is one of the factors that had led to high public awareness of unmanned aircraft.  Although UAS platforms have existed long before the GWOT, the high profile operations and media coverage have made UAS a household name (Luban, 2013).  Another factor in the high visibility of UAS is the development of affordable gimbal mounts, relatively small, lightweight, robust, high-definition cameras (Such as GoPro models).  These developments, combined with quad-rotor type UAS powerful enough to carry this equipment aloft to achieve useful altitude and endurance, have given rise to a thriving and enterprising user community.  One only needs to perform a cursory search on YouTube to find a plethora of videos ranging from whimsical demonstrations to serious mechanical and design discussions.

            Regardless of the positive or negative aspects, the notoriety gained by UAS has propelled this technology into the public spotlight.  UAS platforms are now being developed and planned for agricultural, journalistic, energy/utilities sector, construction, real estate, film, emergency services, law enforcement, and commercial delivery purposes.  UAS research and development has proceeded at a pace so rapid that potential operators and entrepreneurs have been waiting on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine regulations for UAS operations (Mayerowitz, 2015).

            Once FAA regulations are in place, the long-awaited advance of UAS into the aforementioned fields will take place.  The UAS market’s economic impact is expected to be $13 billion during the first three years in the United States alone.  70,000 new jobs are expected to accompany this economic development (Jenkins and Vasigh, 2013).  The proliferation of UAS will most likely result in the aircraft becoming common, everyday sights.  They will probably gradually become a part of our daily lives as much as the Internet grew to become.

 References

Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.  (2013).  The Economic Impact of

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the United States.  Arlington, VA: Jenkins, D. & Vasigh, B.

Luban, D.  (2013, October 23).  A Strange and Far-Flung War.  Dissent.  Retrieved from

http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/a-strange-and-far-flung-war

Mayerowitz, S.  (2015, January 7).  Drone Revolution Still Waiting on FAA Rules.  The Wichita

Eagle.  Retrieved from http://www.kansas.com/news/business/article5544042.html