PSL research support paves way for 'flying robot'
industry. |
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Las Cruces is in a good position to become a center for the emerging
unmanned aerial verhicle (UAV) industry, and work being done by New Mexico
State University's Physical Science Laboratory is paving the way.
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Potential uses for UAVs include agricultural and environmental monitoring,
disaster monitoring, aerial photography and mapping, scientific research,
law enforcement activities, and telecommunication relays.
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With funding from NASA, PSL's Technical Analysis and Applications Center
(TAAC) is helping to develop certification and regulatory standards for
remotely operated aircraft -- an essential preparation for the day when
UAVs fly routinely in civilian air space.
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Essentially, they are flying robots, capable of performing tasks that may be
too dull or dangerous for human pilots, said PSL's William Gutman.
Monitoring and environmental disaster site might be risky for manned
aircraft, but a UAV can do it. Circling for long periods of time at
extremely high altitudes, to relay communication signals, would not be
feasible for a piloted aircraft, but some UAVs are perfect for the job.
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"We think there is a tremendous amount of potential in this area," said
Stephen Hottman, director of TAAC and a group leader at the Physical
Science Laboratory.
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