PDF The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry is made up of systems that can fit on the tip of your finger to aerial vehicles that are the size of passenger planes. The vehicles that make up the current industry are better thought as integrated systems that include the platform, sensors, communications and control, and payload. Though still primarily a military market, UASs have practical applications in the commercial sector: (border patrol, search and rescue, parks/recreation, fire and police assistance, etc).
As a whole, the industry is expected to grow by $31 billion over the next ten years ($2 billion is projected commercial growth). The Dayton Region has focused economic development and infrastructure efforts on supporting UAS industry growth and development in order to capture a large market share of the projected $31 billion.
Perhaps one of the most dynamic sectors within the aerospace industry, there are opportunities beyond manufacturing the vehicle itself. The systems that handle sensors and data management (collecting, interpreting, reacting to the data that’s downloaded) is a sweet spot for the Dayton Region. Additional research opportunities include:
- new energy storage technology such as fuel cells
- multi-function materials and structures
- innovative techniques and algorithms for unmanned vehicle collaboration such as swarming and teaming,
- new engineering concepts that enable smaller biomimetic air vehicle designs
- new concepts that enable and facilitate test and evaluation of new UAS technology
- research to assist the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the development of policy and regulations for integration of UAS technology within the national airspace.
