As early as 2012, thousands of civilian unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) could take to the sky as soon as the FAA allows them to share U.S. airspace with other aircraft. When that happens, professionals will be needed to operate them remotely, both as pilots and as sensor operators, when they carry video and audio equipment.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is stepping up to fill that need with a new minor in Unmanned Aircraft Systems that begins on the university’s Daytona Beach, Fla., campus in the fall semester of 2010.
The 15-credit minor will consist of five courses: Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations and Cross-Country Data Entry; Operational Aspects of Unmanned Aircraft; UAS Robotics; and Unmanned Sensing Systems.
Students in the program will learn about the uses of civilian and military UAVs, how to select UAVs for civilian use, regulations governing their operation, and maintenance requirements. When they graduate, they will be qualified for jobs as UAV pilots and sensor operators with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to university officials.
Embry-Riddle’s Next Generation Advanced Research Lab is developing a virtual-reality air traffic system that will allow students to fly a simulated unmanned aircraft.
“UAVs can do things that are impossible or too dangerous for regular aircraft to do,” says Ted Beneigh, who initiated Embry-Riddle’s new academic program. “For example, tiny insect UAVs equipped with audio and video sensors can fly through windows and into limited spaces to assist with a rescue or security. In Japan, they’re used as crop dusters, and in Canada model airplane-sized UAVs equipped with sensors fly over fields and identify which crops are healthy and which need help.”
Beneigh, a professor of aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle, serves as a technical expert on an FAA-funded research agreement with the university that is laying the groundwork for UAV access to the national airspace system for the FAA.
For more information: 386-226-6956 or EmbryRiddle.edu.
Since we are still early into the “UAV” world, I think we should at least get the name correct. These vehicles are not “unmanned” and the public should not be mislead. There are male and female huMANs flying each from remote consoles so indeed, they are “manned”. I think the term “drone” is demeaning so how about remotely controlled air vehicle? Of course the problem with this is the acronym, RCAV, will be interpreted as radio controlled air vehicle. So back to the drawing board for a name….
While we are at it, let’s get rid of the term “air vehicle”. Since Orville and Wilbur “powered things” that leave the ground with wings have been called airplanes or planes for short. Let’s not abandon that.
So my suggestion is RPP, remotely piloted planes…why not? Simple and accurate.
So get to the folks at Embry-Riddle, and suggest they rename their program and get this emerging industry off the ground properly monikered. I even heard that in 2010, the USAF will train more pilots to fly planes not sitting in the cockpit than pilots strapped in a cockpit…. Those pilots sitting at consoles will not consider themselves to be flying an unmanned craft. Fortunately, even with good mechanical autopilots aboard, every plane today needs a huMAN, male or female, in charge…someplace in the world, even if not in the cockpit…