Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Guide: Exploring Designs, Operations Regulations and Economics

283 Pages·2017·11.787 MB·English

by  Brent Terwilliger, David C. Ison, and John Robbins

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SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS GUIDE L SMALL
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Exploring Designs, Operations, Regulations, and Economics
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Brent Terwilliger, David Ison, John Robbins, Dennis Vincenzi N UNMANNED
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The utility and benefits of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are being D

increasingly recognized. While this technology is not new, its ability to support A
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domestic public and private operators is becoming better understood, opening up R
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new uses to government organizations and commercial enterprise. Small UAS are R
expected to become the most prevalent and affordable form of unmanned aircraft A
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available, with applications for both business and recreation ranging from hobby T
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model aircraft communities to defense contracting. S
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Beginning with the history and evolution of UAS, this book covers typical sUAS T
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designs (including types of multirotor, fixed-wing, and hybrid), major elements and M
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equipment, related technology, common uses, and safety practices. It also provides S

you with guidance and resources to make well-informed decisions regarding G
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purchase and use, and to determine a path forward through the complex legal,
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business, operational, and support considerations.
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Exploring Designs,
Whether you use sUAS to address a business need or for recreation, the authors
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furnish knowledge you need to acquire certification approvals, evaluate and e
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purchase an sUAS, and operate in a safe, efficient, and effective manner. Written w
for experienced aviators as well as those new to aviation and operating in the illig
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National Airspace System, the easy-to-read format features full-color illustrations, r,

a list of abbreviations, and an index. The authors’ experience and insight into the Is
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technical, operational, and regulatory considerations will assist you in shaping your n
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own strategy for use of this (r)evolutionary technology.
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, Brent Terwilliger, Ph.D.
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c David Ison, Ph.D.
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Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. n
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7005 132nd Place SE i John Robbins, Ph.D.
Newcastle, Washington 98059
800-ASA-2-FLY AS Dennis Vincenzi, Ph.D.
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www.asa2fly.com -U
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ASA-UAS-SUAS S-S
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FIRST EDITION
SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS GUIDE

SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS GUIDE
Exploring Designs, Operations, Regulations, and Economics
Brent Terwilliger, Ph.D.
David Ison, Ph.D.
John Robbins, Ph.D.
Dennis Vincenzi, Ph.D.
AVIATION SUPPLIES & ACADEMICS, INC.
NEWCASTLE, WASHINGTON
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Guide: Exploring Designs, Operations, Regulations, and Economics
by Brent Terwilliger, David Ison, John Robbins, and Dennis Vincenzi
Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.
7005 132nd Place SE
Newcastle, Washington 98059-3153
[email protected] | www.asa2fly.com
See the ASA website at www.asa2fly.com/reader/SUAS for the “Reader Resources” page containing
additional information and updates relating to this book.
© 2017 Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. While every precaution has
been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher, Brent Terwilliger, David Ison, John
Robbins, and Dennis Vincenzi assume no responsibility for damages resulting from the use of the
information contained herein.
None of the material in this book supersedes any operational documents or procedures issued
by the Federal Aviation Administration or other governing agency, manufacturers, schools, or
operator standard operating procedures.
ASA-UAS-SUAS-PD
ISBN 978-1-61954-395-9
Cover photo: istock.com/seregalsv
Credits for many of the images used in this book are listed in the Figure Credits on page 247.
CONTENTS
List of Illustrations...................................................... viii
Foreword........................................................... xiii
Acknowledgments ................................................... xiv
About the Authors ................................................... xv
Introduction......................................................... xvi
Abbreviations ....................................................... xviii
Chapter 1 1
History of UAS: Where Did They Come From and Where Are They Headed?
Introduction....................................................... 1
Early Predecessors .............................................. 1
Unmanned Aircraft Development .................................. 8
From Tactical to Transformational Technology .......................... 21
Transition from UAV to UAS ....................................... 22
Open Source to Crowdfunding .................................... 23
Related Technology and Innovative Development ....................... 24
Regulations Set the Stage for the (R)evolution .......................... 26
Chapter 2 29
Application of sUAS: Understanding Uses
Introduction....................................................... 29
Common Uses .................................................... 29
Recreation and Hobby ........................................... 32
Precision Agriculture............................................. 36
Public Safety and Service ......................................... 39
Communications ................................................ 44
Aerial Filming................................................... 45
Cargo Transport................................................. 46
Environmental Monitoring ........................................ 47
Training and Education........................................... 47
Research....................................................... 48
Emerging Uses and Challenges....................................... 49
On the Horizon .................................................... 50
CONTENTS v
Chapter 3 51
Variety of Design: Exploring the Technological Possibilities
Introduction....................................................... 51
Platform Design Configurations ...................................... 51
Important Terms and Concepts .................................... 52
Platform Types.................................................. 54
Categories and Designations...................................... 78
Platform Selection Considerations.................................. 86
System Composition ............................................... 86
Major Elements and Equipment ...................................... 87
Aerial Element.................................................. 88
Payload........................................................ 109
Ground-Based Command, Control, and Communication (C3)........... 114
Human Element................................................. 120
Support Equipment.............................................. 123
Chapter 4 129
Legal, Environmental, and Operational Considerations:
A Map to Navigate the Maze
Introduction....................................................... 129
Regulatory Framework ............................................. 129
Maintaining Safety in the National Airspace System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Model Aircraft and sUAS ......................................... 139
Approved Operation of UAS ...................................... 144
Regulatory Policies and Resources ................................. 155
Operating Environment ............................................. 159
Visibility ....................................................... 159
Altitude........................................................ 163
Hazards and Obstacles........................................... 163
Operational Environments ........................................ 163
Weather ....................................................... 172
Environmental Considerations..................................... 172
SUAS Operation ................................................... 173
General Aeronautical Knowledge .................................. 173
Fixed-Wing Flight ............................................... 178
VTOL Flight .................................................... 180
Remote Operation .............................................. 180
Remote Pilot-in-Command and Visual Observer Coordination .......... 181
Autonomous (Automatic) Operation................................ 183
Geofencing .................................................... 183
Data Capture and Processing...................................... 183
vi CONTENTS
Operational Planning and Preparation .............................. 183
Schedule, Coordinate, and Conduct Operations...................... 194
Hour Logging and Reporting...................................... 200
Maintenance, Calibration, and Diagnosis............................ 201
sUAS Operational Considerations.................................. 201
Chapter 5 203
Business of Unmanned Aviation: From Agencies to Startups
Introduction....................................................... 203
UAS stakeholders .................................................. 203
Organizational Structures......................................... 204
Stakeholder Roles and Collaboration ............................... 212
Business Opportunity and Development............................... 212
Starting a Business .............................................. 213
In Field Employment ............................................ 215
Acquisition, Support, and Cost Planning ............................ 216
Incorporating sUAS Operations ................................... 229
Growth Areas and Challenges........................................ 231
Chapter 6 233
Preparing for the Future: Accurate Information Makes All the Difference
Introduction....................................................... 233
Finding Information ................................................ 233
Regulatory Information........................................... 234
UAS Test Sites and Center of Excellence ............................ 236
Government-Sponsored, Advocacy, and Public Outreach Organizations.. 237
UAS-Related News .............................................. 238
User Communities and Networks .................................. 238
Journals/Scientific Publishing...................................... 239
Conferences, Symposiums, and Events.............................. 240
Insurance Providers.............................................. 241
Legal Support and Representation ................................. 241
Other Web-based Resources...................................... 242
UAS Reports and Documents...................................... 243
Author-Produced UAS Materials ................................... 244
Figure Credits....................................................... 247
Index .............................................................. 257
CONTENTS vii
ILLUSTRATIONS
NOTE: Credits for images used in this book are listed in the Figure Credits starting on page 247.
FIGURES
1-1. Cayley glider design ............................................. 2
1-2. Stringfellow’s steam engine aircraft................................. 2
1-3. Pénaud’s rubber band-powered helicopter .......................... 2
1-4. Test flight of a Lilienthal glider in 1895............................... 3
1-5. Marconi operating his wireless radio system.......................... 4
1-6. Replica of Chanute 1896 glider..................................... 5
1-7. Langley Aerodrome. ............................................. 5
1-8. Wright brothers’ famous first controlled, powered flight, Dec. 17, 1903 ... 5
1-9. Depictions of various early aeromodeling designs..................... 7
1-10. Examples of modern operational model aircraft....................... 7
1-11. Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane. ................................. 9
1-12. Kettering “Bug.” ................................................ 10
1-13. RAE Larynx. .................................................... 10
1-14. De Havilland Tiger Moth DH-82. ................................... 11
1-15. Radioplane OQ-2A............................................... 11
1-16. TDR-1 Assault Drone. ............................................ 12
1-17. V-1 (JB-2 Loon) on display. ........................................ 12
1-18. Project Aphrodite BQ-7 “Careful Virgin.”............................ 13
1-19. Northrop Ventura RP-71 “Falconer.”................................ 13
1-20. Ryan BQM-34F “Firebee II” on display............................... 14
1-21. QH-50 DASH.................................................... 14
1-22. Lockheed Martin D-21 on the back of a SR-71. ....................... 14
1-23. Ling-Temco-Vought XQM-93 ...................................... 15
1-24. MQM-105 “Aquila”.............................................. 15
1-25. RQ-2 “Pioneer.”................................................. 15
1-26. General Atomics ALTUS I (civilian variant of GNAT-750). ............... 16
1-27. MQ-1 Predator. ................................................. 17
1-28. RQ-4 Global Hawk. .............................................. 17
1-29. RQ-5 Hunter. ................................................... 18
1-30. RQ-7A Shadow 200. ............................................. 18
1-31. ScanEagle launch from mobile catapult system. ...................... 19
1-32. Hand launch of RQ-11B “Raven.” .................................. 19
1-33. RQ-20 Puma. ................................................... 20
1-34. MQ-8 Fire Scout................................................. 20
1-35. Artist’s rendition of the RQ-170 Sentinel. ............................ 21
viii ILLUSTRATIONS
1-36. NASA Helios solar-powered UAS. .................................. 22
1-37. TAM 5, “Spirit of Butts’ Farm.”..................................... 22
1-38. Example crowdfunding effort, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University (ERAU) sUAS Buying Guide. .............................. 23
1-39. 3D printer and printed propeller.................................... 25
1-40. Example sUAS platforms.......................................... 27
2-1. Example visual perspectives: manual, aircraft, and satellite ............. 30
2-2. VTOL sUAS performing line inspection. ............................. 32
2-3. Example recreational model aircraft................................. 33
2-4. NDVI analysis, derived using data collected from UAS (left). ............ 36
2-5. Full-spectrum georeferenced orthomosaic model (right). .............. 36
2-6. Example livestock management flight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
2-7. Example aerial spraying flight...................................... 38
2-8. Example search flight............................................. 40
2-9. Digital surface model of construction site derived
from photogrammetric processing ................................. 41
2-10. Example maritime breakwall examination flight....................... 41
2-11. Example smokestack inspection flight............................... 43
2-12. Example emergency response support flight. ........................ 43
2-13. Geo-referenced point cloud from aerial data captured using sUAS....... 44
2-14. Example communications relay flight. .............................. 45
2-15. Example real estate flight. ........................................ 46
2-16. Example training flight............................................ 48
2-17. Example archeological evidence-gathering flight...................... 49
3-1. Fixed-wing sUAS tractor propulsion configuration..................... 55
3-2. Fixed-wing sUAS pusher propulsion configuration..................... 56
3-3. High-wing configuration. ......................................... 57
3-4. Low-wing configuration........................................... 59
3-5. Mid-wing configuration. .......................................... 59
3-6. Example wing types and properties................................. 60
3-7. Fixed-wing sUAS tail surface configurations: conventional, T-tail. ........ 61
Fixed-wing sUAS tail surface configurations: V-tail, tailless, twin-boom. . . . 62
3-8. Effect of aileron movement on roll rotation of fixed-wing aircraft......... 63
3-9. Retracting tricycle landing gear..................................... 64
3-10. Taildragger landing gear, showing prop clearance & horizontal orientation. 65
3-11. Fixed-wing float configuration. .................................... 67
3-12. Fixed-wing with skid.............................................. 67
3-13. Fixed-wing with skis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
ILLUSTRATIONS ix