UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

• A REVIEW
Introduction:
• Drones are formally known as UAVs. These are the aircraft systems without a
human pilot onboard.
• UAV is made up of light composite material to reduce weight and increase
maneuverability
Classification of UAVs
UAVs can be classified by mentioned characteristics:
• Range and Altitude: On the basis of range and altitude, UAVs are
classified into two types viz.

1) Low altitude platforms (LAPs) are usually short range line of site platforms.
These are designed for short term applications with less deployment cost and
fly time to several hours only.
2) High altitude platforms (HAPs): HAPs are usually beyond line of sight
platforms within altitude above 17kms.
These are preferred for providing wide scale wireless coverage for large
geographical area.
• Flying Mechanism : Depending on the flying mechanism drones are classified into three
types :
1. Multi rotor drones, also known as rotary wings drone. These allow vertical takeoff and
landing over a fixed location.

2. Fixed wings: These are the ones which use fixed static wings to glide over the air which
makes them significantly more energy efficient and carry heavy payloads but they
require runway for takeoff and landing.

3. Hybrid wing drones: These neither fixed nor multirotors but are characterized by both
type.
This drone uses multirotor to take off and land vertically and fixed wings for longer
distance. Example for such drone is parrot swing.
• Payloads: Payloads refer to size and the maximum weight a drone
can carry it varies from grams to 200kg. Drone are classified into
five types:

1. Micro : Weight is less than 100 g. Example: KoganNano drone

2. Mini: Weight varies from 100g to2kg. Example : Parrot Disco
3. Small: Weight varies from 2kg to 25kg. Example : DJI Spreading
Wings
4. Medium: Weight varies from 25kg to 250 kg. Example: Helicopter
5. Large: Weight is more than 150kg. Example: Predator B.
Drones in smart cities

• Drone can be used as aerial base station that can deliver reliable, cost effective and on
demand wireless communication (Wi-Fi and LTE) to desired areas.
• Drones equipped with cameras can be used for surveillance and security purposes.
• Real Time Traffic Monitoring and analysis is also a potential application in which drones
can replace intensive labor and complicated infrastructure.
• Drones can be used to monitor remote areas such as mountains, forests and areas of high-
altitude.
• Drones can be effectively utilized in rescue and search operation eg. Firefighting drone.
• Air pollution generated by industry traffic and house heating can be monitored and
controlled by drones carrying chemicals.
Military Applications

Drones are used as target decoys, for combat missions, in Research & Development and for
supervision. The main uses of drones are:
• Security: Drones are used in Security and Control, Aerial Traffic & Security Watch,
Battlefield Management, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Conditions.
• Search & rescue: Drones can be used in all Terrain Search and Rescue Operations, Life
raft Deployment and Rescue Point Marking..
• Communications: Drones are used in Secure communications and Telecom Relay &
Signal Coverage Surveying.
• Monitoring: Drones can also be used in Waterways & Shipping, Pollution Control & Air
Sampling, Chemical, Biological, Radiological &Nuclear Deployments.
• Munitions: Drones can be used as Air to Air Missiles, Air to Ground Missiles, Air-Tank
Missiles and Wide Area Munition Deployments.
 APPLICATIONS
Current Trends in India

• UAV have seen an exponential growth in demand in

India over the past 5 years. Indian Railways is using
UAV for surveillance of its networks of gas
transmission pipelines.
• Adoption of UAV is increasing in India and it is Military
projected that the value of industry and market would
be around USS 885. 7million, while the global market Consumer
size will touch US$ 21.47 billion by 2021.
• A few examples of Indian Governmental Agencies and Commercialy/
PSUs that have piloted UAVs are as follows: civil

• National Highways authority has employed the use of

drones for 3D digital mapping for Detailed project
Report (DPR) for road widening for Raebareli –
Allahabad highway.
INDIAN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

• Suchan - Developed by CSIR and NAL.

• Imperial Eagle- IE is a mini UAV jointly developed by the DRDO and CSIR-NAL.
• Netra - It is developed by UAV in collaboration with ideaForge.
• Nishant - Nishant is a multipurpose tactical UAV used for intelligence gathering, reconnaissance,
training, surveillance, target tracking, artillery fire correction, and damage assessment.
• Panchi - Panchi is said to have all the capabilities of Nishant, except that the performance has been
improved and it will have a longer endurance as it will not be loaded with air bags or a parachute system.
• Rustom II/TAPAS BH 201 - AKA Tactical Air-Borne Platform for Surveillance-Beyond Horizon 201
(TAPAS BH 201) and is believed to perform only non-combat roles, chiefly surveillance. Reports say that
TAPAS BH 201 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads.
• Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft/Ghatak - It is a tactical stealth aircraft able to deliver
laser-guided weapon. It is collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Authority (ADA) and has
seen the AURA revived under the name Ghatak (Lethal). A fully developed flying prototype expected to
be complete by 2023.
India’s indigenous UAV programs
• National Railway System in have used drones to monitor the construction of its railway .

• PGCIL an Indian state-owned electric utilities company has obtained approval and started
working towards implementing UAV for project monitoring in hill terrains.

• Public Sector Undertaking, engaged in the business of generation of electricity and allied
activities has undertaken the consideration of UAV for monitoring, inspection, intrusion
detection and surveillance for its solar power plants.

• Indian state-controlled coal mining company has started aerial surveys of coal block for
assessment of greenery restoration post excavation from mines.

• An agency for coordinating response to natural or man-made disasters has deployed UAVs
for rescue and relief operations (located or trapped citizens, providing relief packages etc.)
• Threats from Drones
1. Drones with guns and explosive: - Unmanned aircraft can carry weapons and may use for lethality.
2. Drones in the Hands of criminals and terrorists: - Drones being used by organized gangs to target high
security areas.
3. Drones as SPY: - Drones fitted with high resolution cameras and microphone can be used by militants for
unauthorized surveillance.
4. Unethical Porter: - UAVs can be used by smugglers to smuggle contraband and weapons.
5. Hacking.
6. Threat to civil aviation: - Even Small drones can damage critical aircrafts components which may lead to
accidents.
7. Threat to air defense system: - UAVs is vulnerable to spoofing, hacking and jamming .Drone which
hacked the printers while flying outside the building and sharing the sensitive information directly with
the drone
8. Data Aggregation:- A aggregation of drone-collected data with other personal information such as bank
account details, telephone number, biometrics, etc. can entail a unique privacy infringement .
 Indian and Global Drone Regulations:-
Mandates for Drone:

• The owner must secure a Unique Identification Number (‘UIN’).

• Operators to hold Unmanned aircraft operator permit (UAO)

• Industrial License for manufacturing the drone.

BEL’s Scope of work
UAV-Market Trends & Scenarios
The key drivers in the market are:
• Increasing Security Concerns
• Growing Domestic Manufacturing
• The key restraints in the market are:
• High Cost
• Low Funding
• Government Delays
The different markets are classified as:
Market by Type:
• Fixed Wing
• High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE)
• Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)
• Medium Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MALE)

Market by Payload
• Less than 250gm
• 250gm-2kg
• 2-25kg
• 25-250kg
• Above 250kg
Some of the key
Manufacturers in India
include:
ASTERIA AEROSPACE
1. A400 UAS
It is a vertical takeoff and landing mini
UAS for quick deployment from
confined Locations
2. CYGNUS UAS
It is a mini UAS for surveillance and
security operations with best in class
endurance, range and payload
capabilities.
DRONA AVIATION
o PLUTO
Pluto is DIY Nano –Drone that is
programmable with CYGNUS IDE+
SDK. Pluto is crash resistant and
makes for a hassle-free flight
experience.
JOHNNETTE
o JF2
o JH2

o JR1