Unmanned Aeronautical System (UAS) technology will have to advance within the next five to ten years in order for a successful transition into the National Airspace System (NAS).  Safety, size, and automation are three areas for advancement of UAS technology.  However, improvements in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations must simultaneously improve with technology. 

As is the case with all operations in the NAS, safety is paramount. Manned operations allow for the luxury of more situational awareness and have a history and known level of risk.  Unmanned operations pose a new, unique risk for NAS operations and must accommodate for the lack of situational awareness.  In order to do this, UASs must incorporate systems similar to those standardized in manned aircraft.  Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF), and Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) are systems with capabilities that must propagate into all unmanned operations before higher class airspace can be opened to those UASs. However, researchers must note that these systems are not simply one-for-one swaps from manned to unmanned aircraft (Zeitlin & McLaughlin, 2006).  Technology must be developed to incorporate the capabilities in the unique platforms and scenarios that UASs introduce, such as size limitations.

Size is an important limitation that UASs face.  The platform size alone reduces the types of sensors, safety equipment, and overall power available to the system.  Since one of the benefits of UAS is the small size, focus must be placed on creating smaller sensors and safety equipment alongside improved power plants.  As power sources become smaller while maintaining output and efficiency, multiple pieces of equipment can be supported with a smaller size power source.  Moreover, more sensors or pieces of safety equipment could then take the leftover space from the new and improved power plant.  UAS will always face questions concerning the choices of what sensors or systems to include and what platform to use.  As UASs begin to more closely resemble a Mr. Potato Head, producers will have more choices; these choices begin with decreased size requirements.

Finally, a hot button issue concerning UAS operations is automation.  UAS automation has a growing fan base, but safety considerations must take priority.  Certain situations may place the cart before the horse in terms of technological advancements.  The FAA has the ability to regulate the introduction of UAS automation in the NAS. Currently, UAS operation is limited to 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) unless within 400 feet of a structure. Additionally, UAS operations are limited to daylight only operations within Class G Airspace unless granted ATC permission (FAA News, 2016). As UAS in the NAS proves itself and its capability of safe operations, automation can increase accordingly.

FAA. (2016). Summary of small unmanned aircraft rule (part 107). Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/uas/media/Part_107_Summary.pdf

Zeitlin, A. D., & McLaughlin, M. P. (2006). Modeling for UAS collision avoidance. MITRE. Retrieved from https://www.mitre.org/sites/default/files/pdf/06_1008.pdf