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Module 1 ASCI 238 Thoughts


One thing that comes to mind when I think of human factors in unmanned aviation is why is a ground control station set up with a configuration similar to a manned aircraft?  I understand that is traditional but is it ideal and efficient?  Are UAV pilots with no manned flight experience more successful and more trainable as a RPA pilot first?  They are 2 very different ways of doing something similar.

In module one, a topic that didn’t see enough attention is automation built into the UAS.  An expensive UAV should not be operated entirely manually, because of latency and data link interruptions.  An autonomous and assisted landing system should be imperative for an unmanned winged aircraft because of reduced sensory cues. Considering the difficulty, the UAV is more accident prone. A pilot must sense the speed, vertical speed, altitude and orientation of the aircraft without the G forces and physical cues to flare and land safely without damage.

I’m not a pilot, but I know a few things from sitting in the cockpit of military aircraft.  Considering sense and avoid, or detect and avoid, TCAS and ground based radars are still in use but more costly, less efficient and old technology next to ADS-B.  I feel that once ADS-B takes over, it will solve many of the traffic issues with its GPS technology, broadcasting and receiving information about other aircraft and weather.  I feel this is a big piece in aviation safety.



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