Module 1, Lesson 3 - Issues Facing UAS Operations

sUAS Lesson 3 - Issues Facing UAS Operations

Issues Facing UAS Operations

Reliability

There are numerous issues facing the industry, but the FAA has stated that safety will be the number one priority. One of the leading technological issues facing UAS integration and the widespread proliferation of UAS is system reliability. 

The US Department of Defense has tracked military reliability data and shows that over half of UAS component failures are attributed to propulsion or flight control failures. 

The difference between traditional aircraft and UAS reliability can be striking. Three possible explanations for this lower reliability exist: The UAS design competes with traditional aircraft and needs to be cheaper and acquired much faster. There are no standards for the design and development of UAS. There is a lack of developmental and operational testing with commercial civilian UAS. 

Multiple Choice

True or False: As UAS are tested and flown, system issues will be corrected, and reliability will improve.

• True

• False

Avoiding Other Aircraft

Another technological issue limiting the full integration of UAS into the National Air Space (NAS) is collision avoidance. The FAA has defined UAS as aircraft, meaning they must meet Part 91.113 of the United States Code Title 14 which requires pilots of aircraft to "see and avoid" other aircraft and, when required by order of priority, give way to other aircraft. 

Many UAS developers have contemplated about technology that could provide the same level of safety while enabling UAS crews to operate without the aid of either a Visual Observer (VO) or chase aircraft. This family of technologies is often referred to as Detect and Avoid. 

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of Cooperative Detect and Avoid?

• UAS will use sensors to detect aircraft that are not broadcasting information

• All aircraft transmit information to one another about their location and vector

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of Noncooperative Detect and Avoid?

• All aircraft transmit information to one another about their location and vector

• UAS will use sensors to detect aircraft that are not broadcasting information

Maintaining Link

A technology issue limiting the full-scale integration of UAS into the NAS surrounds the UAS control link. In the event of a loss of link, the unmanned aircraft will execute a preprogrammed logic. 

Multiple Select

In addition to exceeding speed limits, what are two possible causes for a loss of link?

• Malicious intent

• Frequency crowd-out

• Link is too short

Although not directly associated with a loss of the control link, UAS advocates and critics alike are concerned with frequency allocation for UAS. UAS tend to use the industrial, scientific, and medical frequencies and do not have dedicated frequency ranges for communication and control. The use of unsecure radio frequencies places UAS at risk of tampering or blocking, possibly causing a loss of link event. 

Public Perception and Acceptance

Even if all the technological challenges facing UAS were solved tomorrow, UAS would still face a serious barrier to full integration. This barrier is the public at large. Public perception, especially for government use of UAS, is mixed because many see the advantages of UAS for scientific use, inspection, and photography but others believe the government will use UAS as a tool for invading privacy.