Main article: UAV
Project Maven - Building a global surveillance platform with transformable capabilities for strike drones
Project Maven is one of the largest American projects in the field of creating military drones with AI. This is the Pentagon's program to build an AI-based surveillance platform for unmanned aerial vehicles. The challenge is to create a system for the US military to deploy and monitor autonomous drones. Read more here.
Chronicle
2024
Why the US lost the drone war. MIT study
The US lost the Drone War (UAV) to China. This is stated in a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the results of which were published on July 30, 2024.
According to MIT Technology Review, many components drones are developed in the United States, To Europe or. Japan But as of 2024, they are produced mainly in the PRC. The study said there was a particular problem for the US and its Nato allies: the "missing middle" in technology investment. The money is directed either to the rapid adoption of existing technologies, or to scientific ideas that will take several decades to bring practical potential or significant economic effect. But, as highlighted, investment in scaling production resources, on-the-job training, and the development of new technologies to help build the next-generation industrial base is often lacking.
China's manufacturing dominance has led to a local workforce with "experience of technological innovation and product improvements that are unmatched in the West." For example, neodymium magnets (NdFeB) used in UAV engines have been invented in Japan and the United States, but all brushless DC motors for drones are available in China. Similarly, China dominates all stages of processing and manufacturing of NdFeB magnets.
In addition, the PRC controls approximately 75% of the world's lithium polymer battery production capacity. Such power supplies are used in FPV drones. China also controls the extraction and processing of minerals needed to make components for batteries of this type.[1]
Drone development investigated by disaster sites
On July 30, 2024, American researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute announced the development of a system that allows drones to survey disaster and disaster sites. At the same time, several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) act as part of a group, exchanging information with each other. Read more here.
WSJ - American drones are too expensive and do not cope with tasks in Ukraine
In early April 2024, it became known that American unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the zone of a special operation, do not cope with their tasks. In addition, as it turned out, these drones are too expensive, and their operation is fraught with numerous difficulties.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Ukrainian military considered American-made drones too fragile. They are not able to take on board the cargo of the declared mass, fly to the required distance and return home. Moreover, often these devices cannot take off at all. Another problem for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is that American UAVs are powerless in front of Russian electronic warfare and GPS signal suppression technologies. As a result, in real combat conditions, such drones, in fact, turn out to be ineffective. It is also said that problems arose with the Switchblade kamikaze drones from the manufacturer in Virginia.
 | The general reputation of American drones of any kind in Ukraine is such that they do not work as well as other systems, "said Adam Bry, executive director of the American drone manufacturer Skydio. |  |
Moreover, Brai called even drones of his own production "not a very successful platform on the front line." In total, hundreds of Skydio drones were sent to Ukraine, but, as noted, one of their key shortcomings was the high cost. This is especially important given the fact that in the current situation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lose about 10 thousand drones every month. It is noted that Kyiv solves the problem by purchasing relatively inexpensive Chinese UAVs. In addition, components for self-assembly of drones are purchased in the PRC.[2]
2020: Drones launched in the United States to monitor social distance
In mid-April 2020, police department officials in Connecticut spoke about their plans to use drones to monitor parks to assess compliance with basic social distancing principles. Read more here.
2019
US Department of Justice updates its policies on the use of drones
On November 27, 2019, the US Department of Justice announced changes to its policies governing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the ministry. The document replaced the leadership of 2015. In many ways, it repeats the provisions of the previous manual, but it also has several provisions regarding cybersecurity and data privacy .
This version of the manual "requires components to assess the cyber risks presented by UAVs in order to provide protection against potential threats to the supply chain and networks of the Department of Justice." According to the document, the Ministry of Justice is also obliged to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration access to airspace, including the development of an air traffic support plan.
Finally, the document reports that information collected from UAV cameras and sensors will be weighed for "potential interference and impact on privacy and civil liberties" that could harm government interests.
In October 2019, the US Department of the Interior stopped using its entire UAV fleet of 800 drones due to the threat of espionage from the PRC. All UAVs used by the ministry were either made in China or contained components made in China[3].
The standard of electronic numbers for drones has been approved in the United States
In mid-September 2019, a new standard for electronic license plates for drones was approved, by which it can be identified by remote observers.
The new ASTM standard WK65041 introduces requirements for identifying drones using electronic numbers and recommendations for setting up reading systems for this data. The standard was developed with the participation of civil aviation authorities such as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transport Canada, as well as leaders in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry. All new drones will be automatically equipped with electronic license plates, and for old ones it will be possible to buy special ID chips connected via a USB port.
The developers of the standard propose that drones continuously transmit identification data via WiFi or Bluetooth, allowing other devices to detect themselves and communicate. These identification signals shall be read from a distance of 350 to 450 meters. Using Bluetooth 5 can increase the range of these signals up to a kilometer.
With the help of special applications on smartphones or other devices, it will be possible to identify drones that are in the user's field of view. Ordinary citizens will only have access to the identification number of the drone, but law enforcement agencies will be able to find out additional information, for example, exact coordinates, speed, direction and take-off point, as well as data on its owner, operator and stated flight purpose.
The drone can also be identified if it is connected to the Internet, such as through its operator's cellular communications. This option can be useful if the observer does not have an application for remote identification or the drone is out of range.[4]
US DHS: Drones could pose threat to US companies
On May 21, 2019, it became known that drones made in China can send important data to manufacturers in China, which, in turn, can transfer this data to the government. This warning was issued by the US Department of Homeland Security. Read more here.
US Air Force decided to use drones taking downed pilots from the ground
In mid-May 2019, the US Air Force announced the development of an unmanned aerial vehicle, which is designed to rescue downed pilots. To create such a drone, the military is looking for a contractor - applications for participation in the tender of the company will be able to submit until July 1, 2019. Read more here.
First U.S. commercial drone delivery service launched
On April 23, 2019, it became known about the launch of the first USA in the commercial service for the delivery of goods using. drones This happened after U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) it first UAV issued an aviation carrier certificate to the operator. It was received by Wing, a holding company. Alphabet More. here
2018
First drone use at New Year's Eve celebrations in New York
On December 28, 2018, the NYPD announced plans to use the drone for the first time for security during New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square. About 2 million people gather in this square in the central part of Manhattan in New York every year on December 31. Read more here.
Light analogue of car numbers for drones
Ford in March 2018 introduced a solution to identify drones using a light code - an analogue of a car number - that will allow you to identify the drone from afar and quickly find its owner. Read more here.
Notes
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