I happened across the website DoDBuzz and saw the youtube video titled "The Flying Half-Kegg" and thought others might enjoy the video.
I ended up finding other video's on youtube about Small Unmanned Aerial Systems. I'm glad that there is open source information, especially video. This should give people a better understanding of this nascent industry that was birthed through Federal Gov't R&D contracts and is now a critical technology within DoD. Many people like me believe that there are even larger opportunities via Commercial market opportunities...however these sysems (Unmanned Aerial Systems) cannot legally be operated in the United States National Airspace without permission to waive existing federal aviation administration regulations through what's called a certificate of authorization waiver(COA) process. We've been working with certain Components within the Department of Defense for establishing a COA in Southeastern Kentucky for Small Unmanned Systems operations. This process can take time. We've been working on it for about 2 years. We are still making progress and are confident that the approvals will come in due time. I'll talk about that more another time.
Robotics and unmanned systems are nascent and growing game-changing industries that are going to be important economic engines for the United States and other countries. I've shared this with others that obtaining Certificate of Authorization Waivers (COA's) for unmanned aerial systems operations can, will and do have a tremendous economic impact to any region it is associated with and should be viewed and considered to be an economic growth engine just like locating a large company with hundred's of employees next to great schools, great power infrastructure, great communities.
It should also be viewed as an economic incentive for industry. Imagine being able to locate your technology business next to approved airspace for unmanned systems operations?
For now, I think you'll enjoy some youtube video's about Small Unmanned Aerial Systems. The Raven is the system that is most widely fielded by the United States Army, which is why you'll see it everywhere. I've spent lots of time with this system and many other small unmanned aerial systems and consider this system to be the "jeep" of small unmanned aerial systems.
Here's a video about the 152 Battalion, deployed with the 76th BCT in Iraq, who secure logistical convoy routes by flying recon missions with the Raven, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
Here's another video that demonstrates the affordability and ease of building your own small unmanned aerial system by integrating commercial off the shelf components that are available (primarily through the RC hobby market). Now, I say this a little bit tongue in cheek because it's not quite that easy (if you want a system that you can depend on when your life depends on it....) The point is a tremendous amount of progress has been made. US Taxpayers have invested heavily in developing these technologies. A promising industry is being born. Promising companies in this industry are now being traded publicly by wall street banks. The technology is advancing. Why aren't more jobs being created?
The problem is that the United States laws that govern Unmanned Aerial Systems operations in the National Airspace System are lagging. Especially in how the FAA views small unmanned aerial systems and then limits and restricts their legal access and operations in the United States National Airspace System.
Until very recently the majority of this technology was classified or at least kept very very quiet. Now with the widening use of general purpose forces to include national guard units (and eventually foreign military sales customers) its becoming easier to inform and educate wider audiences about the profoundly positive impact that Unmanned Systems are having on society.
In particular and especially small unmanned aerial systems.
As citizens and taxpayers shouldn't it be our responsibility to ensure that elected officials, political appointee's, law makers and administrators are regulating and enforcing laws that are benefiting humanity and society writ large instead of self-imposing restrictions and limitations with no real argument other than "it's new", "we don't want to take any risks", "let's study it for a decade and then decide".
In an unprecedented time of economic uncertainty when jobs are evaporating and Industries are disappearing, devastating certain regions in the United States, does a "wait and see" approach make sense for such an important young and promising industry?
We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?
Cheers,
John Surmont
Founder & CEO
Sofcoast, Inc.
