A Historical Investigation of the Mission Requirements and Enabling Technologies Influencing the Development of Unmanned Rotary-Wing Aircraft

The earliest unmanned rotary wing aircraft were models that were used as toys, or to develop the technology required for larger and manned helicopters. Some of the earliest model helicopters lead to the technological insights required to develop manned helicopters. The first significant widespread operational use for fixed wing unmanned aircraft came out of the radio control/model aircraft industry and was adapted for use as a gunnery target. On the other hand, it was the unique hovering capability of the helicopter that lead to adapting a small manned helicopter, the Gyrodyne co-axial Rotorcycle, for shipboard anti-submarine operations. There was somewhat of a lull in Rotary Wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems during the 1970's and 1980's. But the refinement of a few key technologies has led to a resurgence of development starting in the 1990's as precise autonomous control and autonomous landing capabilities were refined. Since 2000, the development of the quadrotor and other significant enabling technologies has led to the capability for a very small team to develop a very capable, very cost-effective small Rotary Wing Unmanned Aircraft System.