Drone Technology

What is a drone?

A drone is an unmanned aircraft. Drones are more formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned aircraft systems. Essentially, a drone is a flying robot that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously using software-controlled flight plans in its embedded system, that work in conjunction with onboard sensors and a global positioning system (gps).

UAVs were most often associated with the military. They were initially used for anti-aircraft target practice, intelligence gathering and, more controversially, as weapons platforms. Drones are now also used in a range of civilian roles, including the following:

· search and rescue

· surveillance

· traffic monitoring

· weather monitoring

· firefighting

· personal use

· photography

· videography

· agriculture

· delivery services

How do drones work?

Drones have two basic functions: flight mode and navigation.

To fly, drones must have a power source, such as battery or fuel. They also have rotors, propellers and a frame. The frame of a drone is typically made of a lightweight, composite material to reduce weight and increase maneuverability.

Drones require a controller, which lets the operator use remote controls to launch, navigate and land the aircraft. Controllers communicate with the drone using radio waves, such as wifi.

What are common drone features and components?

Drones have a large number of components, including:

· electronic speed controllers, which control a motor's speed and direction;

· flight controller;

· GPS module;

· battery;

· antenna;

· receiver;

· cameras;

· sensors, including ultrasonic sensors and collision avoidance sensors;

accelerometer, which measures speed; and

· altimeter, which measures altitude.

Drone features vary based on the use it is put to. Examples of features include:

· various types of cameras with high-performance, zoom and gimbal steadycam and tilt capabilities;

· artificial intelligence (AI) that enables the drone to follow objects;

· Augmented reality features that superimpose virtual objects on the drone's camera feed;

· media storage format;

· maximum flight time, which determines how long the drone can remain in the air;

· maximum speeds, including ascent and descent;

· hover accuracy;

· obstacle sensory range;

· altitude hold, which keeps the drone at a fixed altitude;

· live video feed; and

· flight logs.

Robots Technology

These applications of robotics have greatly enhanced the intelligence of the military agencies around the world.

The introduction of robotics has transformed the military and defence sector across the world with smart functionalities. Multiple types of robots are crucial for ground missions and to protect a country from future attacks. Robotics help to augment human capabilities for responding to potential threats without harming human soldiers like neutralizing bombs. The global military and defence robotics market show a lot of potentials for new applications to have a competitive edge over conventional warfare capabilities. The Governments have started investing millions of dollars into robotics for accelerating military applications. The global military robot industry is expected to hit US$30.83 billion in 2022 with a CAGR of 12.9%. The military and defence sector leverages robotics to provide human soldiers an advantage at the ground level. Though the integration of artificial intelligence provides automation to these robots, these are still controlled by human soldiers to avoid autonomous random killing.

Top 10 Applications of Robotics in Military and Defence

Wearable robots

Wearable robots are thriving in the military and defence industry for helping human soldiers carry heavy pack loads efficiently. The combination of artificial intelligence and robotics provides automation to carry a bulk of supplies from one place to another. These robots reduce the workload of human soldiers to provide opportunities for focusing on other crucial areas for the welfare of a country.

Mobile robots

Mobile robots play a wide range of roles in the military and defence industry from reconnaissance patrolling to neutralizing bombs. These mobile robots consist of hi-tech sensors and cameras to perform different missions efficiently and effectively while providing necessary video and images. The robotic arms are also used for neutralizing suspicious objects and bombs without harming any human soldier. These work on wheels, tracks, both and battery-powered with an excellent communication system.

Surveillance robots

An accurate and secured surveillance system is highly crucial for this industry for the betterment of citizens. The ground-based systems leverage surveillance robots with sufficient weapons and hi-sensor cameras. These cameras with infrared or night vision help to observe the entire building and area of the military and defence without sending in soldiers.

Robotics submarine system

The robotics submarine system is a new application of robotics in the military and defence industry. This enhanced robotics technology helps in multiple different activities under water such as detecting and inspecting underwater mines, working on anti-submarine operations, protecting navy ships in harbours, and many more. It provides ample opportunities to observe underwater efficiently just like the ground level.

Search and rescue robots

Search and rescue missions are very crucial for this industry to rescue human soldiers from emergency situations. The implementation of robotics has provided search and rescue robots to search, track, and rescue soldiers from multiple different environments like chemical, nuclear, radiological, and biological. It can be operated from a command centre to rescue soldiers from battlefields without confronting any more risk.

Combat robots

Combat robots can play crucial roles in missions with their advanced functionalities. The robots act as a combat support application for multiple activities such as fire support, battle damage management, aerial refuelling, laying mines, electronic warfare, and many more. It consists of a certain degree of automation to minimize collateral damage efficiently and effectively.

EOD robots

EOD robots or “Explosive Ordnance Disposal” robots are popular in this industry for identifying and disarming risky traps, improvising explosive objects, fireworks, and many more. EOD robots can be integrated into bomb detection systems in closed areas, vehicles, or building complexes. These have immense potential in the nearby future to carry a lot of major responsibilities in future missions.

Fire-fighting robots

One of the major functionalities of robotics applications is to protect humans from hazardous environments. Fire is one of the main hazardous environments in the military and defence industry. Thus, fire-fighting robots address different kinds of fire situations to avoid major casualties. These can withstand high temperatures while putting down fire with various fire suppressing techniques. Fire-fighting robots use hi-tech sensor cameras, a gas sensor, and a stereo infrared camera for navigating through the smoke.

Swarm of Drones

The military and defence industry is focused on investing millions of dollars in a swarm of drones for powerful observation. These are small-sized surveillance drones with high battery life and high-tech cameras. The cameras are expected to have infrared detection capabilities in the nearby future. The aerial view is very crucial for this industry to observe activities and detect potential threats to combat.

Voice-controlled robotic vehicles

Voice-controlled robotic vehicles rely on the voice commands from the speech recognition module to carry out essential activities. There are speeches as well as push buttons with transmitter and receiver circuits for achieving control objectives. The microcontroller sends signals to the motor driver for controlling the movement as per the command signals.