Robert Valdes, author of How the Predator UAV Works, explains the UAS ground control stations for the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle operations are controlled by the operator’s from very far distances and it’s designed to spy for military missions (Valdes 2006). Controlled and completed operational systems, with four predators including sensors is operated from the GCS that houses the crew (pilots and sensor operators) with satellite communication.

According to Robert Valdes, on the ground it’s described by the articulated that the whole operation runs with approximately with 80 people. Integrated people can operate the four predators during the full day surveillance within approximately 400 nautical miles distance from the ground control station. The drone can fly with the crew or individually autonomously on complex or simple missions using a data program. The regular crew of the GCS for the predator consists of two sensor operators and a pilot. The pilot flies the drone using standard rang light stick and other controls. Furthermore, the MQ-1 Predator associates with transmitting commands to the c-band line-of-sight data link. If the operations are beyond the range, then satellite link will be used. The crews use images and radar receivers from the aircraft to make decisions in controlling the drone. (Valdes, 2006)

One negative human factor could come from comparing the kind of flight that a human pilot experiences versus the drone which has a different visual perspective. The human pilot has a whole cockpit which allows for a panoramic view while a drone looks through a straw limiting visibility. Visibility for a pilot is crucial because it will allow them to be aware of their surroundings as well as weather changes. Training and education will hopefully help to reduce this discrepancy in adaptation of these two different styles of flying. Another negative human factor is when the pilot of the drone is relaying only on what the cameras show, which as mentioned before limits the visibility and reduces personal safety. To mitigate this problem, new technologies should focus to increase the size of the screens that will help the ground operator to administrate and personalize the information, reducing the work load for the crews. The controls should also respond to and demonstrate any type of turbulence that the drone is experiencing if any. Lastly, fatigue is a common human factor that affects UAS ground control crews as well pilots of manned aircraft and should be seriously addressed.  

A great feature of the predator GCS is that it has wheels allowing it to roll went it needs too similar to the landing wheels of an aircraft. The predator can be transported in c-130 Hercules or c-141 star lifter airplanes. The predator can be assembled in 8 hours and with four crew members. Flexibility and easiness of transport allows for fast deployment of the system (Valdes 2006). New features in variations are contributing in the upgrade of the predator model called the “MQ- Atair”. It could be used for weather and atmospheric research and even the coast guard has its own version (Valdes 2006).

On a final note, Robert Valdes stated “The trend in military technology seems to be moving toward missions carried out by automated warriors with flesh-and-blood controllers battling safely from behind computer terminals” which comes to show that the military is significantly relying on these drones (Valdes 2006). There will be constant improvements done to drones because it is a manmade machine that will never be considered perfect.

References

Valdes, Robert. (2006). How the predator UAV Works.

 Online: http://science.howstuffworks.com/predator.htm/printable 1 of 10 9/28/2006