UAV Industry at Large

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) concept was first thought of during the civil war when the North and South tried launching balloons with explosives to the other side. The Japanese also tried the concept in World War I but neither was effectual. Over the decades the concept has been improved to point in the 1960’s when the US developed drones (robots of the sky). During the Vietnam War they proved their purpose in reconnaissance, but today the civil and commercial world has been finding a way to incorporate their operations. Currently operations in different areas of the agricultural industry for crop control and monitoring, environmental control, mineral explorations, coast watch, news broadcasting, and surveillance in high crime areas. Through my research I was quite surprised to find found there are more than 50 corporations, which manufacture UAVs and growing.  The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) held its conference in April to spread the word on the innovative future incoming with robots on land, sea, and air. The AUVSI conference focused on the military perspective of the future and how the drone technology will be the modern battlefield. Predicting the next generation of UAVs to be nano-sized as operational needs push the manufacturers to develop miniaturized systems.

Over the next 5-10 years the industry will expand within the commercial and civil operations as well as produce a new generation of UAV’s. These UAVs will be smaller, affordable, and more precise. The Military is predicating them to be able to detect nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. There are hopes the new technology with help them see through the thick double canopy jungles and provide reliable communication and data across the battlefield.

The New York Times published an article, which addresses some underlying and ethical issues with the rapid involvement and development of these robots to fight our battles. The highest ethical issue in question being, how this technology will change the government’s outlook on war. We are facing a time of the discontinuity between the general public and its wars. Moreover the drones are turning war into a video game where Americans are not at a direct risk. With that being said analyst argue the drones could easily bring the US in conflicts if there is no risk factor present.

For a more civilian side of issues the general public would argue the issue of personal privacy. Privacy is always imminent in this country and part of its foundation. We have a certain amount of freedoms and question in infringement of those freedoms with technology. Day to day we here how detrimental technology is to information, UAV bring the same concerns. As much as they may bring the crime rates down and show to be productive in multiple industries they also will bring up personal concerns. Just as social networks were supposed to bring people closer together and create longer lasting relationships we never thought they would actual degrade interpersonal social skills and one on one relationship. A study done last year shows in 1/3 (33%) of divorces social media played a substantial role not to mention 33% of youth has suffered from a form of cyber abuse and stalking where there are 50-75 cases recorded weekly.  These are the technological issue, which have spiked in the last decade and civil UAVs would bring new parameters to stalking and abuse. We obviously cannot pin point all the pros and cons to the new technology but modern society should consider them. The public would be concerned if they were aware they had been being monitored without them having the knowledge.

The Government is obviously major factor in the development of UAVs and their creation through military operations. As far as the commercial operations the FAA is in the process of developing specific regulations for civilian use.  The prospective career opportunities in the industry are vas and still under development with pilots and technicians. Because the commercial industry is under development the educational standards are undefined and dependent on the company for either of the above-mentioned occupations.  Just by looking on some job posting sites it seems employers are looking for experience within the aviation industry and a bachelors degree, but some require less and others require airplane certifications and an hour limitations.   Understandably if you were looking for a job on the management, sales, marketing, or customer service end of things a bachelor’s degree and experience are needed but the industry is still at birth and therefore the standard is not allowably a standard across the board.