Unmanned aircraft take on new uses

Posted on: Feb. 22nd, 2006 || Source: borderlandnews.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

When unmanned Predator aircraft prowled the skies of Afghanistan using their electric eyes to hunt down al-Qaida operatives, they provided examples of a blossoming technology that probably will become more common in civilian uses.

Over about 10 years, unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, have been employed by the military to perform dangerous duties. But other uses -- including homeland security and scientific experiments -- are being explored, along with ways to integrate the aircraft into the daily operations at the nation's municipal airports, according to researchers at New Mexico State University's Physical Science Laboratory.

UAVs will generally be employed in jobs that are "dull, dirty or dangerous," said Phil Copeland, the laboratory's deputy technical director. They also could provide a cheaper alternative to using large, piloted aircraft.

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