Drone Program Research Paper
I. Introduction
In today’s fast paced society, technology is a growing field that is evolving at an astounding pace. Since the 1900s, when the first energy powered airplanes were invented, breakthroughs in aircraft technology have grown exponentially, leading to the creation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones. Drones are vehicles that do not need a person within it to operate and can be controlled in a remote location or by programming. By the 1930s, new drones emerged as a combat training tool. For example, the Queen Bee, the first returnable and reusable drone, was designed for use as an aerial target during training missions. Gunners in the Royal Navy practiced shooting them down at first sight. During the 1960s, drones took on a new role as stealth surveillance during the Vietnam War. Engineers would reduce the radar signature by fitting a specially designed screen over the engine’s air intake, putting a radar-absorbing blanket on the fuselage sides, and covering the aircraft with a newly developed anti-radar paint. They would then control the aircraft to fly over the area and later redirect the drone to a safe recovery area. From 1990s to today, dozens of new drones were pioneered, versions of which were integrated into the drone fleets of many countries. The Firebird 2001 can deliver real-time, highly accurate information on a wildfire’s speed, size, perimeter, and movement using different technologies, including GPS. Pathfinder, a solar-powered ultra-lightweight research aircraft was tested for environmental research by collecting wind and weather data. The success of drones has brought them to a permanent and critical position in high-tech military arsenals today, from the U.S. and Europe to Asia and the Middle East [1]. Although used for many different purposes, drones today are best known for military and intelligence applications like aerial surveillance and strikes. Because they do not need a pilot, drones can be considered an efficient,
In today’s fast paced society, technology is a growing field that is evolving at an astounding pace. Since the 1900s, when the first energy powered airplanes were invented, breakthroughs in aircraft technology have grown exponentially, leading to the creation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones. Drones are vehicles that do not need a person within it to operate and can be controlled in a remote location or by programming. By the 1930s, new drones emerged as a combat training tool. For example, the Queen Bee, the first returnable and reusable drone, was designed for use as an aerial target during training missions. Gunners in the Royal Navy practiced shooting them down at first sight. During the 1960s, drones took on a new role as stealth surveillance during the Vietnam War. Engineers would reduce the radar signature by fitting a specially designed screen over the engine’s air intake, putting a radar-absorbing blanket on the fuselage sides, and covering the aircraft with a newly developed anti-radar paint. They would then control the aircraft to fly over the area and later redirect the drone to a safe recovery area. From 1990s to today, dozens of new drones were pioneered, versions of which were integrated into the drone fleets of many countries. The Firebird 2001 can deliver real-time, highly accurate information on a wildfire’s speed, size, perimeter, and movement using different technologies, including GPS. Pathfinder, a solar-powered ultra-lightweight research aircraft was tested for environmental research by collecting wind and weather data. The success of drones has brought them to a permanent and critical position in high-tech military arsenals today, from the U.S. and Europe to Asia and the Middle East [1]. Although used for many different purposes, drones today are best known for military and intelligence applications like aerial surveillance and strikes. Because they do not need a pilot, drones can be considered an efficient,
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