UAVs- The Next Generation

摘要

The dazzling success of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Global War on Terrorism has opened military eyes to the potential of robotic systems. The MQ-1 Predator, with its phenomenal surveillance and strike capabilities, seems to point the way to broader and more sophisticated UAV operations. For all that, Predator also has been seen to suffer some crippling shortcomings. Being small, it cannot carry much onboard fuel, which limits range and endurance. It cannot refuel in air, as do manned aircraft. Because Predator operates alone, it often winds up watching targets already being watched by others. The Predator, flown by humans, is subject to poor human judgment.