UAVs were first introduced to the United States Military because of their ability to be controlled remotely. The first UAVs were not very sophisticated, because they only had the capability to fly along pre-set paths and they operated off of an internal navigation system. Eventually, the servicemen began to informally refer to any machine that flew without the control of humans onboard as a “drone.”

The idea behind the drone is a category that refers to any unmanned, remotely piloted flying craft that ranges from anything as small as a radio-controlled toy helicopter to a 32,000-pound, $104 million Global Hawk.

To further clarify things, there are many names that drones can be called, and most of these names come from the military. For instance, drones have been described by the military as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) and Remotely Piloted Systems (RPSs).

Let’s take a look at some of the most common and iconic military drones!

RQ-11 Raven– This drone weighs four pounds and can be launched just by throwing it. Once it is airborne, it’s then piloted by a hand-held unit that resembles a video-game controller. This is the most commonly used drone and more than 19,000 have been built. This drone is mainly used for exploring around corners and sending video footage of rooftops back to troops as they move through a city.

MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper- These are the most iconic of the drones because they can be armed and have become the preferred tool for drone strikes. There is, however, a main difference between them, and that is that the newer Reaper is bigger and has a more powerful engine that also has the ability to carry much more than before.

RQ-4 Global Hawk- This drone is 32,000 pounds, has a 130-foot wingspan and has the ability to fly for more than a day. The Global Hawk can go up to 60,000 feet and can take high-resolution images and detect and track moving targets on the land below from high elevations.

Just as the invention of the drone can be used for military purposes, they also can be used for civilian purposes as well.

Just this year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified two types of unmanned aircraft that were created for civilian use. The new drones are Institu’s Scan Eagle X200 and the AeroVironment’s PUMA. Both of these drones are about 4.5 feet long, have wingspans of nine and 10 feet and weigh less than 55 pounds.

The Scan Eagle was used by a major energy company off of the Alaskan coast that surveyed ice flows and migrating whales. The PUMA, on the other hand, is expected to be used in order to support emergency response crews for wildlife surveillance and monitor oil spills over the Beaufort Sea.

As you can see, drones are predominately used by our military, however, there are new drones being used for civilian purposes as well! But, for the most part, the usage of drones in the United States has commonly been limited to police and other government agencies.

Like we said before, Amazon is working on a project to one day use drones for their delivery system, so, it might only be a matter of time before more and more drones are being used for commercial purposes. As always, time and technology will tell if these plans will actually come to fruition!

Copyright Davison 2013

Sources:

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-03/drone-any-other-name

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/27/faa-drones-civilian-use_n_3662269.html

Images:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RQ-11_Raven_2.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RQ-1_Predator.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/MQ-9_Reaper_CBP.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Global_Hawk_1.jpg

The post Zeroing in on the Uses of Drones appeared first on Davison.

From helmets, to tanks to robotic donkeys, the United States military is constantly refining prototypes in order to make the best possible product.

Let’s take a look at three of the most recent military prototypes!

Modular helmets- After a study discovered that 72 percent of all soldiers’ head injuries occurred to the face, officials were forced to determine what equipment would provide the best protection.

In September, the United States Army released two new helmet prototypes. These prototypes were created to determine which modular design would work best to provide crew members with only one helmet versus the two that they currently use.

Prior to this prototype, crew members had to keep two helmets- the Combat Vehicle Crewman helmet and the Army Combat Helmet. The prototype will allow them to carry only one by altering the helmet for both mounted and dismounted soldiers.

In October of this year, Army leaders unveiled the helmets that came out of the Helmet Electronics and Display System-Upgradeable Protection program, which was a four year development effort that was led by Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center.

This modular variation of the current head gear offers soldiers face-protective 9mm plating and Heads Up Display that is powered by an Android phone and will provide the soldier with much better protection. The helmet will be equipped with better, more useful features than the current models.

84-ton tank- Heavy is an understatement. The U.S. Army’s recent prototype for a new tank, the Ground Combat Vehicle weighs in at 84 tons, more than twice as much as it predecessor, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. This new prototype will carry a nine-man squad into combat versus the previous six-man squad. The Ground Combat Vehicle will be able to withstand an improvised explosive device (IED), a threat that didn’t exist when the Bradley was deployed in the early 1980s.

What is the reasoning behind a tank this heavy? The massive size of this tank is necessary to protect the soldiers inside of the vehicle and increase their chances of survival if an explosion were to occur. The overall size and weight of this tank offers adequate space that will, in turn, allow the soldiers to wear armor while seated. The extra space in the tank also will help distribute pressure from a potential blast, lessening its impact.

The future of this tank is still uncertain; however, there are tentative plans to manufacture a tank that will weigh in at 84 tons.

Robotic Donkey- Boston Dynamics invented the record-breaking Cheetah robot and the jumping sand flea robot; now, this innovative engineering company is at it again with their prototype of the LS3, or Legged Squad Support System, in the form of a futuristic donkey.

This prototype is designed to look and act as a pack-mule for soldiers and marines on the march. This large, four-legged unmanned robot is expected to be able to carry as much as 400 pounds, supply power to charge radios and handheld devices, follow soldiers through rough terrain and interact with the soldiers like a real, trained animal.

The initial robot’s agility and perceptiveness was first demonstrated back in early 2012; however, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. military’s research arm, has recently decided to focus on the technology with a new $10 million investment.

The new version of the LS3 prototype is scheduled to be completed on March 31, 2015.

These prototypes are an integral step in the development process of inventing weapons and protection that will guard our soldiers and ensure their safety as they protect and serve our country all around the world. Only time will tell if these three inventions will move from the prototype stage to the manufacturing stage.

Copyright Davison 2013

Sources:

http://kitup.military.com/2013/09/army-unveils-modular-helmet-prototypes.html

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/check-out-this-futuristic-new-soldier-helmet-discovered-1451682335

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-02/why-armys-new-tank-so-heavy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/boston-dynamics-ls3_n_3984910.html

Media:

http://kitup.military.com/2013/09/army-unveils-modular-helmet-prototypes.html

http://www.popsci.com.au/technology/military/the-u-s-army-s-new-84-ton-tank-is-nearly-ied-proof

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/boston-dynamics-ls3_n_3984910.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY42w1w0TWk

The post These Prototypes Just Got their Marching Orders appeared first on Davison.