From cinema to agriculture, from parcel delivery to rescue deplores the use of UAVs ...
Drones are among the most fascinating technological innovations of recent years. Their applications are different, which is why their use is now well-established in both civil and military spheres.
The great success is also confirmed by the surveys of the Drones Observatory of the School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano, which foresee further growth in the coming years after the downturn caused by the restrictive measures against Covid-19.
Remotely guided vehicles, also referred to as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), drones are easy to use and intuitive, so much that they even exist in a toy version, they are actually made of sophisticated technology.
What differentiates the type of drone is first of all the hardware; they can have a structure with a blade motor, a planar structure in which propellers are replaced by wings, or a hybrid structure. Then the number of motors and thus their power changes; they can have from two to eight motors. Small drones are mostly used for recreational purposes, while larger and heavier drones capable of mounting more sophisticated equipment are preferred for professional use.
They can be controlled by different systems: RPAs - Remotely Piloted Aircraft are controlled by radio control, they can then be piloted via a mobile phone application using Bluetooth (up to 20 metres) or WI-FI (up to 50 metres) or programmed to perform flights and operations autonomously.
Individual technical specifications then determine the degree of versatility. Among the first is the presence of GPS, which allows not only position definition but also return to the initial point and stabilisation during flight. They can then have a range of sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses and radio receivers.
Many models on the market also have cameras for taking photos and recording videos. This is certainly the most appealing component for the amateur audience. Gimbal stabilisers and other tools allow the footage to be controlled. The FPW, First Person View, function on the applications with which drones can be controlled, allows photos to be taken with high quality resolutions up to 720P for sharp and bright shots in the most sophisticated models and to shoot in HD, full HD and 4k.
Among the most eye-catching elements are LED lights used for stunts or shows. For commercial use, on the other hand, the most popular accessories include robotic arms used for transporting and delivering objects.
Drones originated for use in the military field. The first experiments date back to the First World War with the flights of the Hewitt - Sperry automatic aircraft. During the Second World War, the RP - 1, a low-cost radio-controlled helicopter used by the US Army, was experimented. The first model used in Italy was the CL-89, a remotely piloted aircraft (APR) for tactical reconnaissance, developed by Canadair. During the Cold War and the Vietnam War, its use became more and more massive with a great technological development that led in particular to a reduction in the size of the drones, which were now smaller and more sophisticated.
Today, drones used for military purposes can be equipped not only with cameras and transmission devices to send images in real time, but also with armaments.
The most recent use in this field sees drones being used in the war between Russia and Ukraine: fighting is also taking place in the sky with incredible duels. Kamikaze drones, the Iranian-made Shahed-136, are used by Russia for attacks in Ukraine. In a video now picked up by all the world's media, a Russian and a Ukrainian drone clash in the open field. The two military vehicles scrutinise each other for a moment and then the radio-controlled aircraft operated by Moscow troops approaches seeking a collision but loses part of its propellers.
The great technological development of the last two decades has also brought drones into the civil sector, with the number of enthusiasts continuing to grow.
Versatile devices capable of satisfying the most diverse needs. Amateurs of the sector are not only professionals of various kinds but above all individuals. Their use in the civil sector offers a wide range of possibilities, ranging from security to cinema, from search operations to the monitoring of power lines or oil pipelines, from the monitoring of flora and fauna to the surveillance of specific areas. Thanks to their small size and great manoeuvrability, they are the strategic tool for search and control operations during calamity events or in impervious or life-threatening situations. In 2011, they were used to monitor the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant after the Tōhoku earthquake in Japan.
Even if the pilot is not physically on board the craft because he or she controls it via a remote control, he or she still has to comply with rules and procedures when flying a drone. To become a drone pilot, it is therefore necessary to take a course. The central issue is the conscious use of drones while respecting the safety and privacy of all.
The current regulation is the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 including guidelines (GM) and acceptable methods of compliance (AMC), revised every two years, for the operation of unmanned aircraft. The main rules stipulate that one may fly within the pilot's direct line of sight, at a maximum height of 120 metres and only by day, flying over people involved. According to the European regulation, there is no distinction between recreational and professional flying. It is then necessary to respect the (temporary) no-fly zones and the no-fly zones, i.e. the areas around an airport, military base or other protected area where flying is prohibited.
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