newsletterUAV

...While the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the military today is commonplace and destined
to grow, look far enough down the road and there’s even the possibility that, one day, even
airliners will be unmanned.
...“If you go over to Atlanta Hartsfield today and get on a Boeing 777 en route to Paris,
Frankfurt, Rome … the only reason there’s people sitting in the front is to monitor the
computer,” said Mike Fuqua, Northrop Grumman Corp.’s Fire Scout business development
manager.
...Much of the flying is already done by computers. Technically, it’s already possible to create a
passenger airliner that could take people from Point A to Point B without a human at the
controls, either autonomously or by remote control.
...Space exploration itself is a prime example of how remote or autonomous control can work
well over the vast distances of space. The age of miniaturization also contributes to the advances
in UAV systems.
...“I don’t think there are too many technical hurdles. We can do it,” said Fuqua. “The technical
sophistication and level of redundancy would, in my mind, make it certainly feasible.”
...But there’s the mindset issue.
...“It’s not a technical issue. It’s a cultural issue,” said Fuqua.
...Culturally, it’s hard to picture getting in an aircraft with nobody at the front to guide it. But
with both humans and computers, there are redundancies to ensure somebody or something is
always in control.
...There are also bureaucratic hurdles of flying in national or international airspace without
someone on board to see and avoid problems.
...Still, Fuqua thinks his grandchildren will live to see a UAV airliner.
...But for the more immediate future, there are multiple UAV potentials beyond military uses.
Fuqua said Fire Scout has a huge potential for being used for medical evacuations, especially in
light of the realities of asymmetric warfare where forces are fighting in hot zones where rescues
by manned aircraft are more difficult.
...The question becomes, whether someone on the ground is willing to get aboard an unmanned
vehicles. Fuqua thinks if it’s hot enough on the ground, that won’t represent much of a problem.
...For the military, the appeal of UAVs boils down to persistence – being able to stay in an area
longer than a manned craft. The longer a craft can maintain a presence over an area, the better
chance there is at success.
...“I agree with the old hands, the real reason you want a UAV is persistence, the ability to stay
somewhere for a long time. What you want to be able to do is be where the bad guys are when
they raise their head out of the hole.”
...Manned aircraft has limitations – an eight to 10-hour mission is about the limit – where with a
UCAV it can remain hours and days at a time. The only limitation is engine capability.
...Northrop is working on a program that would allow fixed-wing UCAVs to land on aircraft
carriers after the end of the decade. It’s a B-2 type of aircraft. – Tcp