UAV Plans and Trends
Facilities Assessment - Airborne Platforms Sub-Committee
August 28-29, 2006
Boulder, CO
Will Bolton
Sandia National Laboratories
Livermore, CA
Bolton 8/23/06
Suggested Discussion Topics
• UAV Background
• Review of available UAV platforms
• Issues in UAV use
Airspace
Access to aircraft
DoD “Dual use”
NOAA
NASA
Commercial supplier (manufacturer or 3rd party)
Cost
Operational experience/insurance
• Trends
• Discussion
Bolton 8/23/06
UAV Background
Much of the impetus for UAV development has been military applications
First use of unmanned photo reconnaissance during US Civil War (1863)
Significant number of Firebee missions during Vietnam war
Substantial Israeli experience in 1980’s
Technology enabled much improved capabilities starting in about 1990
U.S. use increased during Balkans conflict (GA Predators flown from Italy)
Dramatic increase following 9/11 in Afghanistan and Iraq
Although more limited, examples of “civilian” applications include:
AeroSonde - developed for atmospheric research (e.g., hurricane measurements) more
recently limited use over the North Slope of Alaska and other locations
SeaScan developed for fish spotting (although most applications have been the
military SeaEagle version)
Law enforcement (e.g., CyberBug)
NASA ERAST development of Pathfinder, Helios, Altair…
NASA-funded Altus demonstration flights
NOAA/NASA Altair demonstration flights
DOE ARM-UAV flight campaigns using Gnat 750, Altus I, and Altus II starting in 1993
Eddy’s Surveillance Kite
1898
Bolton 8/23/06
Vietnam era Firebee photo drone
InSitu SeaScan
Summary of Current UAV Platforms
There are many listings of “current” UAVs -- for example:
http://www.uavforum.com/vehicles/capabilities.htm
http://www.shephard.co.uk/UVonline/UVSpecs.aspx
http://www.aiaa.org/images/PDF/WilsonChart.pdf
Aviation Week & Space Technology, “Aviation Source Book 2006”
Shephard “Unmanned Vehicles, Handbook 2006”
Note that not all of the listed aircraft actually exist!
Bolton 8/23/06
Summary of Current UAV Platforms
A partial listing…
Rotary
Country
France
France
Germany
Greece
India
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
So Africa
So Korea
Turkey
UK
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
Primary owner
Matra
General Atomics
TESTEM
3 Sigma
ADE
IAI
Silver Arrow
Silver Arrow
Silver Arrow
Silver Arrow
Kentron
Daewoo
TAI
TTL
AAI
AAI
AAI
GA-ASI
BAE Systems
MiTex
Mi-Tex
Northrop Grumman Ryan
PUI
Daedalus
Orion
Sikorsky
UAV Designation
Dragon
Horus-SD
Deltron III
Nearchos
Nishant
Searcher Mk II
Darter
Hermes 450S
Hermes 150
Sniper
Lark
TRPV-1 Doyosae
UAV-X1
ASR-4 Spectre
Shadow 200
Shadow 400
Shadow 600
Prowler I
R4E SkyEye
Hellfox
Vixen
Starbird
Pioneer (RQ-2A)
STF-9A
Seabat
Cypher
Engine details
power Wt(lb) Payload(lb) Endurance(h) Ceiling(ft)
331
66
2
9,600
85 2250
40
25000
150
24
3
13,000
430
132
8
25,000
771
132
4
13,100
940
150
16
18,500
220
22
4
20,000
52
992
220
20
20,000
38
6
15000
375
55
6
15,000
38
265
55
4
15,000
286
50
3
6,000
42
540
66
7
15,000
242
81
3
17,000
275
50
6
15,000
447
5
12000
600
100
12
17,000
200
50
6
21,000
1,250
275
12
16,000
350
50
8
15,000
200
50
4
15,000
380
50
4
17,000
417
75
5
12,000
220
50
5
20,000
200
50
4
10,000
298
41
2
8,200
rotary 912 ul
uel 891 rotary
uel 741 rotary
rotary
norton nr-801
ar741
ar741
ar-801
sachs sf-150 piston
UEL AR 801 rotary engine
Piston
Comments
type Devel. Stage
C Complete
Rotor in Wing
V
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
Tilt Wing
Tail-Sitter
Ducted Rotor
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
V
V
V
Underway
Underway
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Production
Operation
Span(ft)
Comm Radius(nm)
9.8
Underway
Underway
Limited
Deployed
Underway
Limited
Underway
Limited
Underway
Deployed
Limited
Limited
Complete
Limited
Complete
Deployed
27
Span = 8.8
16.8
21.3
28.1
14
34.4
27
54
54
80
50
108
13.8
6.9
15.8
19.7
10.8
12.8
27
54
27
16
27
108
22.4
18
24
11
9.2
17.3
16.8
Span = 12.7
Span = 10
Dia = 6.2
108
140
100
54
50
108
100
250
108
27
Battery/Electric
Country
France
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
Primary owner
Alcore
AeroVironment
CUV
NRL
NRL
NRL
UAV Designation
Azimut
Pointer (FQM-151A)
SLURS
Flyrt
Sender
Swallow
Biodrone
scout 2000
Engine details
power Wt(lb) Payload(lb) Endurance(h) Ceiling(ft) Comments
14
1
2.5
1,000 shephards has a ceiling of 100ft and endurance of .75 hrs
8
2
0.3
1,000
10
2
1
500
72
25
0.5
2,000
10
3
2
5,000
62
10
2
30,000
1.6
22
1.5
100
0.8
6.6
0.5
984
type
E
E
E
E
E
E
Devel. Stage
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Underway
Production Operation Span(ft) Comm Radius(nm)
11.3
6
Complete Limited
9
4
5
5
Complete Limited
8
4
Complete Limited
4
50
15
60
Turbojet
Country
Belgium
Canada
Canada
China
Italy
Italy
Russia
Russia
Russia
USA
USA
USA
USA
France
USA
France
Primary owner
Thomson-CSF
Bombardier
Bombardier
BUAA
Meteor
Meteor
Tupolev
Tupolev
Tupolev
Northrop Grumman Ryan
Northrop Grumman Ryan
Northrop Grumman Ryan
Bostan
Alcore
Aurora
Alcore
UAV Designation
Engine details
Epervier
CL-89
CL-289
t117 turbojet
Chang Hong 1
Mirach 100
Mirach 150
trs 18-1 turbojet
Tu-141 Strizh
Tu-143
Tu-243
BQM-74C
Sea Ferret
Scarab
ACRW
Chacal 2
replaced 2 stroke piston with jet
AU-009 (UCAV demo)2 amt olympus turbojets
Futura
1xturbojet
power
Wt(lb) Payload(lb) Endurance(h) Ceiling(ft)
Comments
324
44
0.5
10,000
238
40
0.2
10,000
650
75
0.5
3,900 Teamed with Dornier
3,750
140
3
57,400
617
88
1
29,500 Variant of aerial target
750
110
1
29,500 Follow-on to the Mirach 100
13,700
250
1
19,500
3,060
400
0.2
9,800
3,100
500
0.4
16,400
514
173
1
30,000
150
30
3
20,000
2,370
290
2
43,000
300
15
3
1,000 Rotating Lifting Surface
166.6
4
3,000
142
500
45 lb
155
33
1.1
1000
type Devel. Stage
C Complete
C Complete
C Complete
C Complete
C Complete
C Complete
C Complete
C Complete
C Underway
C Complete
C Complete
C Complete
V Underway
Production
Operation
Complete
Removed of service
Complete
Deployed
Complete
Deployed
Deployed
Complete
Deployed
Underway
Limited
Complete
Deployed
Underway
Deployed
Complete
Deployed
Complete
Limited
C Underway
C Underway
Span(ft)
Comm Radius(nm)
5.7
50
3.1
32
4.3
108
32
200
5.9
135
8.5
135
12.8
540
7.3
51
7.3
97
5.8
200
6
160
11
500
Wing Dia =5
30
7
6.5
Turbofan
Country
France
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
Primary owner
Aerospatiale
Frontier Systems
Frontier Systems
Lockheed Martin
Northrop Grumman
Boeing
Scaled Composites
UAV Designation
Sarohale
Arrow
Shadow
DarkStar (RQ-3A)
Global Hawk (RQ-4A )
Dragonfly: Canard/Rotor/Wing
Proteus (optionally piloted)
Engine details
allison ae3007 turbofan
turbofan
fj44-2 turbofan
power Wt(lb) Payload(lb) Endurance(h) Ceiling(ft)
Comments
11,700
1,100
24
60,000
14,000
500
36
70,000
3,500
200
12
50,000
8,600
800
8
45,000 Teamed with Boeing
25,600
1,900
36
65,000
1,800
200
3
10,000 Stopped Rotor
12500
2200
18
65000
type Devel. Stage Production Operation
C Underway
C Underway
C Complete
C Underway
C Complete
V Underway
C Complete
Span(ft)
Comm Radius(nm)
120
OTH
115.3
120
65
OTH
69
OTH
116.2
OTH
Rotor = 12
500
78.6
OTH
Turboprop
Country
USA
USA
Israel
USA
Primary owner
Aurora
GA-ASI
IAI
Aurora
Bolton 8/23/06
UAV Designation
Engine details
SkyWatch
Predator B
Allied Signal TPE331
Heron TP
Theseus B
Allied Signal TPE331
Power Wt(lb) Payload(lb) Endurance(h) Ceiling(ft) Comments type Devel. Stage Production Operation Span(ft) Comm Radius(nm)
7,900
900
32
62,000
C Underway
114
250
2,500
650
24
40,000
C Underway
48.8
OTH
1200
7940
24
45000
C
10600
10
82000
C
75.5
Country
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
China
China
China
Croatia
Croatia
Czech
France
France
France
France
France
France
France
France
France
France
France
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Israel
Italy
Portugal
Russia
Russia
So Africa
So Africa
Spain
Spain
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkey
Turkey
UK
UK
UK
UK
UK
UK
UK
UK
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
Austria
China
France
France
France
France
Japan
Japan
Japan
Japan
Russia
Russia
South Korea
Sweden
Sweden
UK
UK
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
Primary owner UAV Designation
Tempest
Vindicator
C Craft
Eyrie Mk 7
IAI
B-Hunter
Aviotechna
Yastreb-25
BSST
Observer 1
Xian
ASN-206
Xian
DP-4 RD
RH-ALAN
BL-50
RH-ALAN
BLS B
VTņL STV
Sojka III
Aerospatiale
Hussard 2
Alcore
Chacal 2
Altec
MART Mk II
Altec
S-Mart
CAC Syst¸mes Fox AT2
CAC Syst¸mes Fox TX
CAC Syst¸mes K-100
Eurodrone
Brevel
SAGEM
Crecerelle
SAGEM
Marula
SAGEM
Sperwer/Ugglan
Dornier
DAR
EMT
Luna X-200
IAT
MK-105 Flash
IAT
MK-106C Hit
STN Atlas
Taifun
HESA
Ababil
FSPF
L-29
BTA
Canard
BTA
Mini Sheddon
BTA
Sheddon MK3
EAS
Crow
EAS
Vanguard
EMIT
Blue Horizon
IAI
E-Hunter
IAI
Eye View / Firebird
IAI
Heron
IAI
Hunter (RQ-5)
IAI
Scout
IAI
Searcher
Silver Arrow
Colibri
Silver Arrow
Hermes 1500
Silver Arrow
Micro-V
Meteor
Mirach 26
OGMA
ARMOR X7
Yakolev
Yak-061 Shmel
Yakolev
Phela / Stroy-P
ATE
Vulture
Kentron
RPV-2E Seeker
INTA
ALO
INTA
Siva
Oerlikon-Contraves
ADS-95 Ranger
Chung-Shan Inst.Kestrel II
TAT
Annasnas
EES
Kirlangic
EES
Dogan
EES
Firefly
Cranfield
Observer
Flight Refueling Raven
Marconi
Phoenix
Tasuma
CSV-20
Tasuma
CSV-30
Tasuma
MSV-10
TTL
Specte II
TTL
Phantom
AAI
Shadow 200T
Alliant Tech
Outrider
Aurora
Perseus B
BAI
Dragon Drone
BAI
Javelin
BAI
Porter
BAI
Tern
Daedalus
Dakota / Truck
GA-ASI
Altus DT
GA-ASI
Altus ST
GA-ASI
Gnat
GA-ASI
I-Gnat
GA-ASI
Predator (RQ-1A )
GA-ASI
Prowler II
GA-ASI
Prowler II
AeRA
Aerosonde
Mi-Tex
Backpack
Mi-Tex
Mini Vanguard
Scaled Composites
Raptor Demonstrator
DRS Unmanned STM-5B
Technologies
Sentry
Thorpe SeeOp P-7180
Thorpe SeeOp TS-2000
Schiebel
Camcopter 5.1
NUAA
Solar Bird
CAC Syst¸mes Hˇliot
Survey-Copter Copter 2
Techno Sud
Vigilant F2000
Techno Sud
Vigilant F 5000
Fuji
RPH-2
Kawada
RoboCopter 300
Yamaha
R-50
Yamaha
R-Max
Kamov
Ka-37
Kamov
Ka-137
Daewoo
ARCH-50
Scandicraft
APID-3
TechMent
RPG Midget Mk III
Aerobotics
Sprite
Channon
Nitro Hawk
Aerocam
23F
Aerocam
60F
Dragonfly
DP4
D-Star
D'Humbug
Freewing
60-25
Freewing
100-50 (Scorpion)
Northrop Grumman
Model
Ryan
330
SAIC
Vigilante
Heli 25
Heliot
Horus-SD
Eagle
Mucke
Tilt-body 6-25
K100
Engine details
6 cyl 2-cycle, 2.4 liter
hs-700 4 cyl, 2-stroke
m115j
4-cyl, 2-stroke
limbach L 275E piston
f&s/shrick sf2-350s piston
2-stroke
2-cyl,2-stroke
heavy fuel piston
power (hp) Wt(lb) Payload(lb) Endurance(h) Ceiling(ft)
Comments
105
1,050
200
20
25,000
496
165
15
15,000
2,100
150
25
20,000
138
10
4
3,000
22
5
1.2
5,000
50
489
110
8
19,600
309
66
2
9,800
117
46
5
5,000
84
32
3
5,000
320
66
2
6,600
66
18
1
6,600
170
40
4
10,000
242
55
4
9,800
318
66
7
9,800
265
55
5
11,500
265
66
5
11,500
62
11
0.5
9,600
330
66
3.5
13,000
298
77
5
13,100
298
77
5
13,100 Follow-on to Crecerelle
70
573
99
8
16,400
265
154
3
9,800
6.7
68
7
3
2,000
198
59
3
10,000
220
50
3
12,000
45.6
330
50
4
12,000
2-stroke 100cc
100cc 2-stroke
wae-342 2-stroke
dual 4-stroke, 2-cyl
25
4-cycle, 4 cyl turbocharged
rotax 914 turbocharged
twin piston
sachs sf-150 piston
100
samara/trud p-032 piston
wae-342 piston
25
4 cyl, 2-stroke
gobler-hirth f-31 piston
limbach L 275E piston
48
bh88
aettow quadra 200cc piston
wae-342 piston
50 cc petrol/oil 2-stroke
6.2
meggit plc 342 cc, 2-cycle,2-cyl
twin cyl, 75 cc 20stroke
herbrandson dyad 290
27
rotax 914 3-stage turbocharge
.061 cu in 2-stroke
150 cc twin cyl, 2-stroke
10
rotax 914 double turbocharged
rotax 914 single turbocharged
100
100
rotax 912 4-stroke turbocharged
rotax 914 turbocharged
diesel
rotax 582 2-stroke
24 cc fuel injected mogas
super tigre
da-150 piston
80
4.5
17
herbrandson dyad 290
25.5
246 cc liquid cooled, 2-stroke
21
hirth 2706 r05 piston
65
2-stroke
aerrow 13 2-stroke benzene
2-cycle
1 cyl, 2-stroke
6.7x2
quadra-arrow 200 2-stroke
d-star diesel
rotax
hirth f-30
75cc 2-stroke
hirth f30a26ak
rotax 914 uk
rotax
recipricating
piston
50
110
55
105
105
120
26.8
12
6
7,200
77
55
90
287
386
286
2,100
340
2,400
1,600
350
820
79
3,300
100
463
440
285
286
220
529
44
507
595
250
275
298
364
110
20 kg
185
386
20 kg
22 kg
4 kg
320
77
280
500
2,500
91
20
200
75
133
2150
2150
1,125
1,350
2,250
650
650
28
25
100
1,764
220
40
1,000
145
620
992
40
93
730
673
1,750
148
194
550
617
661
121
132
80
22
20
40
140
150
75
383
1,100
1,100
992
2250
5500
168
75
60
1,200
12
10
18
55
88
77
150
33
550
150
84
139
22
500
18
77
110
60
50
55
88
13
66
86
60
55
30
40
10
110
50
18
40
60
110
15
3
50
30
50
220
220
140
200
450
50
50
5
4
12
75
45
8
150
20
40
265
10
18
220
175
650
44
66
110
110
110
20
44
13
5
6
20
30
25
20
57
200
160
1
6
3
6
9
16
16
25
6
50
11
7
14
1
36
5
6
12
2
2
3
8
2
7
5
5
14
8
12
5
2
4
5
2
2
0.5
5
3
4
6
24
2
2
4
3
3
24
24
40
40
40
20
20
36
1
3
24
6
2
4
5
4
2.5
2
1
3.5
1
1
0.5
1.5
1
4
0.75
4
3
2
0.5
0.5
0.3
1
4
2
4
5
8
2
2.5
40
20
3.5
2
0.5
25,000
12000
12,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
20,000
20,000
15,000
30,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
6,600
30,000
15,000
11,500
6,600
9,800
8,600
16,400
18,000
4,900
13,120
14,700
8,000
16,000
20,000
20,000
12,000
Teamed with TRW (prime)
Teamed with IST
Teamed with Dornier
Teamed with IAI
92 unleaded + 5% oil
Teamed with DERA and Tasuma
14000 Built by Tasuma
8,000
13,000
9,800
15,000
15,000
65,000
10,000
1,000
5,000
2,000
15,000
65,000
45,000
20,000
23,000
26,000
20,000
20,000
13,000
5,000
16,300
65,000
16,000
5,000
5,000
2,000
9,800
6,700
1,600
9,800
6,600
2,000
2,000
300
6000
9,800
16,400
8200
1,000
2,000
10,000
1,200
7,500
7,500
7,000
18,000
5,000
15,000
20,000
12,000
2000
6000
25000
20000
13000
5000
6000
Teamed with Northrop Grumman Ryan
Tractor version
Teamed with Mi-Tex
Variant of the Exdrone
One UAV for NASA ERAST
One UAV for DoE / CIRPAS
Half-Scale Pioneer Trainer
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter; with Schweizer
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Autogyro
No Tail; Counter-Rotating Rotors
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Helicopter
Rotor-in-Wing
Tilt Wing; with Scaled Composites
Tilt Wing; with Scaled Composites
Helicopter; with Schweizer
Helicopter; with American Sportcopter
vtol
vtol
type
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
C
Devel. Stage
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Underway
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Underway
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Underway
Complete
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Complete
Underway
Complete
Production Operation
Underway
Deployed
Underway
Underway
Limited
Limited
Underway
Limited
Underway
Deployed
Underway
Deployed
Underway
Complete
Deployed
Underway
Complete
Limited
Deployed
Underway
Deployed
Limited
Underway
Underway
Limited
Limited
Deployed
Underway
Deployed
Deployed
Deployed
Complete
Deployed
Complete
Underway
Underway
Underway
Deployed
Limited
Deployed
Deployed
Underway
Deployed
Limited
Underway
Limited
Underway
Deployed
Complete
Limited
Underway
Limited
Complete
Limited
Complete
Limited
Limited
Limited
Limited
Limited
Complete
Complete
Underway
Underway
Underway
Underway
Underway
Limited
Deployed
Limited
Deployed
Deployed
Deployed
Limited
Underway
Deployed
Limited
Limited
Limited
Limited
Limited
Limited
Complete
Underway
Deployed
Limited
Span(ft)
Comm Radius(nm)
23.1
110
16.5
32
50
80
11.5
27
8.8
3
19.7
81
14.1
54
13.1
45
13.1
27
13.4
54
11.5
4
8.7
27
11.2
54
11.2
81
11.8
81
11.8
81
8.5
8
11.2
108
10.8
49
7.2
54
13.8
81
6.6
81
13.8
11
13.2
27
10.5
27
11.8
54
33.8
7.9
9.8
13.5
16.8
19.7
16.4
50
15.4
54.5
29.2
16.3
23.7
13.2
32.8
11.8
15.5
19.7
10.7
10.7
16.1
23
9.9
15.8
18.8
16.5
12.5
16.8
19.7
13.8
344
54
5
24
108
108
50
80
27
125
144
54
65
27
108
27
27
216
27
54
32
108
27
81
54
27
54
81
81
27
18.1
32
2.4 m
3.6 m
2.9 m
2.75m
2.8 m
Underway
Complete
Underway
Underway
Limited
Limited
Limited
Rotor =
Rotor =
Rotor =
Rotor =
Rotor =
Rotor =
Rotor =
10.5
8.2
12.8
13
65
8.2
8
12
10.2
12.7
55.3
55.3
35.3
42
48.8 OTH
24
24
9.5 OTH
3
7
65.8
11
8.5
27
10
19
22
6.0
6.2
15.7
16
Rotor = 10
Rotor = 10
Rotor = 16
Rotor = 17
Rotor = 16
Rotor = 9.8
Rotor = 7.8
Rotor = 5.3
Rotor = 5
Rotor = 5.1
Rotor = 7.7
Rotor =8.5
Span = 6.5
Span = 9.8
Span = 16.1
Rotor = 27
Rotor =23
27
16
27
108
200
48
1
27
9
120
300
250
250
250
135
135
5
31
150
200
5
27
10
81
54
3
16
15
5
1
0.1
0.1
3
27
0.1
14
54
15
5
1
2
1
27
108
108
110
120
Current UAV Ceiling/Endurance Options
Data from: http://www.uavforum.com/vehicles/capabilities.htm
Bolton 8/23/06
Current UAV Ceiling/Payload Options
Data from: http://www.uavforum.com/vehicles/capabilities.htm
Bolton 8/23/06
High altitude, long endurance aircraft options
120000
100000
Helios
80000
Maximum
Altitude
(ft)
60000
Pathfinder +
ER-2
WB-57
Citation
40000
Global Hawk
Proteus
Altus II
Egrett
DC-8
Twin Otter
20000
Altair
Altus I
P-3
GNAT 750
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
Endurance (hr)
30
35
40
Piloted aircraft
UAV
Bolton 8/23/06
45
Other UAV-related resources
“Civil UAV Capability Assessment” draft September 2005; NASA
POC: Cheryl Yuhas
NASA/NOAA/DOE Collaboration on UAVs/UAS in Climate Change
and Weather Research
Office of the Secretary of Defense, “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Roadmap”
“U.S. Naval Aerial Vehicles Roadmap”
“The U.S. Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle Strategic Vision”
Bolton 8/23/06
Issues in UAV use -- Access
Airspace access
• UNITE/Access 5
• UVS International “Global Access Initiative”
• Recent FAA action
• RTCA standards activity (initially “sense and avoid”
and command, control, and communication)
• Center for General Aviation Research (UAS Detect,
Sense, and Avoid; Regulation Study on
Commercial UAS Vehicle Design)
Access to aircraft
• DoD “dual use” (e.g., USAF Predators for disaster response)
• NOAA fleet (?); NASA/NOAA/DOE Collaboration
• Commercial supplier (manufacturer or 3rd party)
Access to RF spectrum
• Autonomy and improved spectrum management help
Bolton 8/23/06
Issues in UAV use -- Costs
Cost elements
• Acquisition (airframe, ground station, payload, spares)
• Operational (fuel, maintenance, staffing e.g, 3 for Proteus,
Egrett, Twin Otter vs 6-7 or so for Gnat/Altus)
• Payload integration (ca $100K-$250K)
• Fixed/ground assets (moving away from “R/C model
airplane” mode and toward more autonomy can reduce
ground assets and staffing)
• Transportation of aircraft, ground facilities, and personnel
Cost experience
• Operational experience/insurance (“Altus-class” UAV
experience resulted in $5K/flight hour for insurance about
10 years ago
• Experience with existing “Predator-class” UAVs suggests
operational costs of $10K to $30K/flight hour
Occupied aircraft are mature and have well developed infrastructure
Bolton 8/23/06
Issues in UAV use -- Reliability
UAVs have had a reputation for lower reliability
• Military legacy
• Non-aerospace components and systems for low cost
• “Single thread” designs
• Reduced structural margins for improved performance
(esp. high altitude, long endurance)
Reliability is improving
• Larger market enables more developed components
• Increased use of redundancy
• Improved designs and materials
• The market demands improved reliability -- at affordable cost
For complex scientific missions, the cost of the payload can
equal or exceed the cost of the UAV
Bolton 8/23/06
Trends
Increased development funding by DoD (total funding approx. $1.6B
FY06; $3.0B FY08)
Development directions by U.S. DoD
• Larger and smaller
• Stealth
• Longer endurance
• Perhaps higher altitude
• Perhaps extreme endurance (e.g., airships)
• UCAV
• Optionally piloted combat aircraft
Adoption for DHS and law enforcement missions
• Border patrol
• Coast Guard (coastal security and environmental monitoring)
• Disaster response (FAA process to approve USAF Predator flights)
Some of this could be advantageous for civilian applications;
however, costs may continue to be an issue
Bolton 8/23/06
Trends (continued)
Although the majority of development funding is by DoD, there are important
developments for other applications. For example:
Liquid hydrogen for long endurance • AeroVironment “Global Observer” (demo flights at Yuma, AZ 5/26/06, 6/2/06)
LH2 fuel, fuel cell, electric motors/propellers; full-scale Global Observer
designed for 250’ wingspan, 65,000’, 1000 lb payload, 7 to 10 day
endurance
Global Observer
Demo prototype
50’ wingspan
Mission objectives:
• Persistent, global, near-space loitering capability for defense and homeland security
• Low cost, rapidly deployable telecommunications infrastructure and GPS augmentation
• Hurricane/storm tracking, weather monitoring, and wildfire detection/support
• Environmental monitoring, agriculture optimization, and aerial imaging/mapping
• Boeing LH2 advanced concept (piston engine/propeller)
Advanced solar electric -
• Microchip Technology “SoLong” solar electric, 48 hour flight, June 2005
extensive use of on-board processing to sense and control power system
(9-phase motor controller, motor pulse shaping, battery monitor and
control, solar cell output monitoring)
Continuing interest in “swarms” - will real applications emerge?
Bolton 8/23/06
SoLong
15.6’ wingspan, 25 lbs
Trends (continued)
Renewed interest in airships • Lighter than air vehicles have been mentioned frequently - mostly plans at this point
• Potential advantages are very long endurance and low cost:
Satellite
UAV
$/payload lb/hr
$1,000-$4,000
$300-$1,000
Airship
$2-$5
• Two candidates currently being developed:
Bolton 8/23/06
Integrated Sensor as Structure (ISIS)
High Altitude Airship (HAA)
DARPA
Solar electric/regenerative fuel cell
1 year endurance
70,000 ft altitude
Prototype 2010; operational 2018
U.S. Army Missile Defense Agency
2,000 lb payload
Solar electric/battery
6 month endurance
60,000 ft altitude
Prototype in 2010
Trends (continued)
Special or limited production aircraft
Scaled Composites
Proteus, White Knight
Proteus
1 built
10 hrs at 55,000’
Grob G600 optionally piloted aircraft
Based on Grob G180 business jet &
experience with Egrett and Strato 2C
White Knight
1 built
G600
17 hrs endurance
65,000’
2400 lb payload
G850 Strato 2C
1 built
8 hrs at 50,000 - 75,000’
Egrett
6 built
15 hours at 48,000’
Bolton 8/23/06
Trends (continued)
Very Light Jets ?
Adam A700
Design
Manufacturer
Diamond D-Jet
Seats
Engines
Eclipse 500
Max. CruiseMax. Range
Cost
Sold
Certification
Prototypes built and undergoing flight testing
Eclipse 500
Citation Mustang
Adam A700 AdamJet
Diamond D-Jet
Eclipse Aviation
Cessna
Adam Aircraft Industries
Diamond Aircraft
Aviation Technology Group
Israeli Aircraft Industries
ATG Javelin
Spectrum Aero Model 33 Spectrum Aeronautical
Excel-Jet Sport-Jet
Excel-Jet
Honda HA-420 HondaJet Honda
6
6
7
5
2
9
5
6-8
2x PW610F
2x PW615F
2x Williams FJ33
1x Williams FJ33-4
375 knots
340 knots
340 knots
315 knots
1,395 nm
1,300 nm
1,200 nm
1,350 nm
$1.49 million
$2.62 million
$2.28 million
$1.38 million
2,400
240
282
125
26-Jul-06
2006
2006
early 2008
2x Williams FJ33
530 knots
2x Williams FJ33-4 415 knots
1x Williams FJ33-4 340 knots
2x GE Honda HF118 420 knots
1,200 nm
2,000 nm
1,000 nm
1,100 nm
$2.80 million
$3.65 million
$1.00 million
> 100
early 2008
Q1 2008
early 2008
one-off-production announced
$2.85 million
$2.10 million
$3.00 million
mid 2008
early 2008
late 2007
Currently under development
Embraer Phenom 100
Epic Jet
Vantage Jet
Bolton 8/23/06
Embraer
Epic Aircraft
Eviation Jets
6-8 2x PW617F
7 2x Williams FJ33-4
10 2x Williams FJ44-1
380 knots Å1,300 nm
390 knots 1,600 nm
424 knots 1,300 nm
Summary of the UAV current situation
Substantial investment by U.S. DoD is driving development
• High cost, designed for military applications
As UAV systems mature, there is the potential for reduced cost
There are many UAV systems now available from US and other countries
for military and civilian applications (proper selection of UAV
can help manage costs
Airspace access is an issue -- largely risk management
• Operating rules (e.g., “see and avoid”)
• Certification of airframes and operators
• Perception of public and aviation community
For now, UAVs should be used for missions needing their
unique capabilities (human not at risk, long endurance)
Bolton 8/23/06