Right Drone for the Job

The figure depicts a complex web of only some of the applications that are possible with UAS. The idea that a platform can be constructed or built as long as there is a purpose in mind. The graphic shows that the unmanned vehicle is just a tool to towards some outcome. For a tool to be effective part of the toolbox, it must first make sense finically.

           The flow therefore starts with the economic benefit and goes through the desired platform and finishes with the desired application. It is important to see that the three major sectors chosen are connected through their respective target market, and end with the idea that their applications are endless.
           UAVs or drones are no longer flying toys for children and hobbyist. They are part of dynamic work force and considered an invaluable multi-tool, with far reaching applications. From public commercial activities such as aerial videography, tower inspections, and surveying to private sector reconnaissance, surveillance and military target acquisition, the range of possible uses is only limited by the imagination of whoever holds this technological tool in their hands.
The complexity and range of uses for today’s aerial drones has come about through the culmination of diverse technologies intertwining towards the development of specialized drones. Each part of a drone is designed with a specific purpose in mind. Tiny micro sensors for advanced flight characteristics, lightweight lithium ion batteries and powerful brushless motors allow for extended flight times with increased payload caring capabilities. These advances have lead to the diversity of payloads to accomplish task previously only able to be done with manned aircraft or not at all.
Unmanned aerial aircrafts are ineffective without the ability to carry some sort of payload.  The payload defines what platform is required to accomplish the task.
 Each aspect building on each other and independently towards the development of a tool that is both dynamic and defined by the desired application. The first step in utilizing a drone as a tool, is to define what needs to be accomplished. Just like a carpenter picks the right tool for the job, a smart company chooses or develops the right drone to meet the desired need. The drone needs to be able to meet the demand of time on target, payload weight requirements and be economically sound. There is a plethora of choices of airframes and flight components, but it must be able to accomplish what it is set out to do.
           The colors chosen are important as the major ideas are primary colors, then mixed to become secondary colors are they are mixed within markets. As seen from top to bottom, the emphasis is first on economic benefit, then the idea of the right drone for the job, and finishing with when you mix those together effectively, then the outcome is endless.  There are many applications that have the same level of usage or importance than the ones seen in the graph, there was just not enough space to list even the slightest fraction of UAS fields.
            Changes in laws or policy could potentially smear the connecting lines of the graphic and within the UAS world. For example, better defined laws about privacy could allow private companies to conduct investigations for evidence in civil court cases, similarly to how a privet investigator gathers information towards a conviction.        

Ian Willey: A little backgroud about me.

My name is Ian Willey. What lead me towards an interest in UAS was a need for ange in my career choice while in the United States Army. In 2008, I made the change from combat arms to combat support by becoming a UAV operator with the Army. After deploying with an unmanned system to Iraq in 2010 and reaching a stagnate point in my career with the military I separated and began to pursue an education. I started with Ivy Tech community college working on an associate degree in general studies. After a great deal of researching four-year universities around the country, I discovered a newly established UAS BA degree at Purdue that would both supplement my operational experience and keep me close to my children living in Indiana. My original intent for post graduation was to work with the integration of UAS into large companies as a consultant or to develop training and operational programs. My short- term goal is to work with the ING as the UAS liaison between senior management and manned aviation   

Education:

I am currently pursuing two bachelor degrees at Purdue for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) and Aviation Management. During pursuit of the UAS degree, I did an internship  for an Unmanned Aerostat company. My focus during the internship was R/D for manufacturing processes and human interfacing.

Operational Experience: 

I have over nine years experience with over 1 thousand flight hours on military grade fixed winged unmanned aircraft. I'm a current Instructor operator/pilot with the Indiana National Guard on the RQ-7b. In the ING, I am responsible for the training and evaluation of a 14 UAS operators. 

I have over four years experience with COTS drones totaling 30 hours of flight time. I have expanded outside of the classroom and  assembled, tested and fly multiple quadcopter and fixed wing style air-frame kits.

I have been Teaching Assistant employee for Purdue University's UAS program as a lab instructor for the Aviation Technology (AT) 209 and 219 courses since 2017.