With the signing of a new law by President Obama this month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been directed to completely open US airspace to drones by September 30, 2015. There are many uses arguable for the use of drones, but most think of the unmanned planes we have seen in action against Al Qaeda when the term drone is mentioned.
The Air Force Research Laboratory made an animated video of the many uses of Micro Air Vehicles and how they may work in the field. After being released by a larger air vehicle, these bird or bug like surveillance drones can literally fly under the radar as well as enter places other drones cannot.
The video includes a section on “Remote Tag and Target” and “Precision Engagement.” The narration states, “Individual MAV’s may perform direct attack missions and can be equipped with incapacitating chemicals, combustable payloads, or even explosives for precision targeting capabilities.”
A picture of an existing MAV drone is now pictured as the main image on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base web site. Back on July 22, 2010, they also released a Fact Sheet entitled “MICRO AIR VEHICLE INTEGRATION & APPLICATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE.”
John Horgan of National Geographic has published an article called “Unmanned Flight: The Drones Come Home” in this month’s issue documenting the history of drones and their possible uses in the US.
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Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
MICRO AIR VEHICLE INTEGRATION & APPLICATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
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