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Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) promise to dramatically change the face
of commercial aviation, enabling whole new markets, and potentially
spurring economic growth and job creation. According to industry
forecasts, UAS operations will increase exponentially once they are
fully integrated within the national airspace system. Today, in the
United States, there are about 50 companies, universities, and
government organizations developing more than 150 different unmanned
aircraft designs.
UAS are increasingly being used for civil applications where it’s not
feasible or practical to rely on extended human-piloted flights:
- Long-duration scientific research
- Remote sensing
- Firefighting
- Aerial photography
- Land and crops surveying
- Pipeline monitoring
- Border protection
- Emergency management
- Airborne communications
NASA has a history of supporting research, development and flight tests
for many types of UAS's that are being used entirely for civilian
purposes.
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