uav

UAV stands for unmanned aerial vehicle, an aircraft that operates without a human crew on board. UAVs are directed remotely or flown autonomously by onboard or ground-controlled software. The term drone is often used colloquially to refer to unmanned aircraft, though it can also denote the system as a whole. The broader term unmanned aircraft system (UAS) includes the aircraft, the control station, and the communications and ground support infrastructure.

Ranging from small hand-launchable aircraft to large military platforms, UAVs vary in payload, endurance, and range. They rely on autopilot systems, GNSS navigation, and onboard sensors for surveillance, mapping, or targeting. Control may be via a human operator at a ground station or through autonomous mission software. Communication links, typically radio or satellite, connect the aircraft with operators. Modern UAVs often include sense-and-avoid capabilities to reduce collision risk.

UAVs are used in a wide array of civilian, industrial, and military contexts. Applications include aerial photography and videography, precision agriculture, infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, disaster response, search and rescue, and package delivery experiments. They can access hazardous or difficult terrain and perform repetitive tasks with high reliability.

Development of UAV technology has progressed rapidly since the late 20th century, with significant deployment in the 2000s and beyond. Key challenges include safe integration into shared airspace, privacy and civil liberties concerns, cybersecurity, and counter-UAV measures. Ongoing work focuses on increasing autonomy, reliability, and interoperability among different platforms and regulatory regimes.