It is quite well known that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection have been using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for quite some time with limited success and a robust cry from the public due to exorbitant cost. The use of drones has been criticized by government auditors as costing too much — about $60 million a year — and producing too little, less than 2 percent of all apprehensions and drug arrests by the Border Patrol (Nixon, 2016). The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) currently being utilized is the MQ-9 Predator B. An audit of the drone program, performed by Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and released last year, suggested that money spent on the drone program could be used better on ground-based sensors and radar towers than on drones, which cost nearly $20 million each and $12,255 an hour to operate (Nixon, 2016). While these aircraft have proven their worth in the defense of our nation overseas for numerous years, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify the program. Therefore, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is looking for Small UAS (sUAS) to fill a niche market for serving their mission and reducing their cost.
Various sUAS manufacturers have made great strides over the last couple of years with technological advancements that allow for sense/avoid, increased payload capability, increased endurance, etc. These advancements have paved the way for sUAS to take on large roles in both military and civilian applications. The agency (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) is currently soliciting proposals for small unmanned aerial systems, similar to consumer drones manufactured by DJI and Parrot, to be deployed by U.S. Border Patrol agents in the field (Brandom, 2017). The obvious cost savings over the Predator would be tremendous with a limited reduction in capability. The crafts would also be outfitted with sophisticated sensors, which may include infrared cameras and facial-recognition capabilities (Brandom, 2017). As this technology is developed, implemented, and refined it can easily find a commercial use case in the civilian market place.
Amazon and UPS are both working on methods in which to deliver packages via UAS. While these companies focus mostly on the delivery vehicle, platform and method, they neglect to see how technology can also enhance their service. Recently, UPS did trial deliveries of packages. When the UPS driver approached the intended home for delivery, she parked the car, and then launched the drone from its roof (Vanian, 2017). From there, the drone flew to the home based on a pre-programmed flight path, dropped off the package held inside a small cage, and then flew off to rendezvous back with the van—which had since been driven to a spot miles away (Vanian, 2017). While this method works well for delivering packages that don’t require a signature or delivery confirmation, it leaves open the opportunity for package theft. A nefarious individual will easily take note of a UAV approaching and departing a particular home. However, with the requirements posted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection the technology may be able to eventually leverage facial recognition in order to confirm package recipient. The test was intended to show that UPS drivers could eventually use drones to handle more deliveries than they would otherwise be able to do using the traditional method of going house-to-house by truck (Vanian, 2017).
Technological advancement is often driven by military as they set the requirements and can demand the research & development. The need for the product drives companies to produce products that would otherwise never be developed due to a lack of demand for commercial use. However, once the product transitions through its developmental cycle the public becomes aware and finds creative means to implement the products in innovative uses.
Brandom, R. (2017, April 6). The US Border Patrol is trying to build face-reading drones. The Verge. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/6/15208820/customs-border-patrol-drone-facial-recognition-silicon-valley-dhs.
Nixon, R. (2016, November 2). Drones, So Useful in War, May Be Too Costly for Border Duty. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/us/drones-canadian-border.html.
Vanian, J. (2017, February 21). UPS Has a New Trick to Make Drone Deliveries a Reality. Fortune. Retrieved from http://fortune.com/2017/02/21/ups-drone-deliveries-florida/.
Your blog taps into an area not commonly discussed; is the investment worth the results. Framed within the perspective of the military, sometimes the end justifies the monies spent. Framed within the context of civilian applications and very tight budgets, quantitative and measurable results are expected. Of course, this all depends on who is doing the final judging. As you post; $60 million dollars a year is a tremendous amount of money and money should never be misspent or wasted and if there are UAS or other technologies capable of supporting the border mission with equal or greater efficiency; then why not. I can only imagine that at the time the U. S. Customs and Border Patrol started using the MQ-9 Predator is was the best available option; and it could be with current advances in technology it is time to look at other applications.
ReplyDeleteThe sUAS market is producing some amazing air vehicles with very sophisticated payloads and sensors. These same technologies used to monitor our borders will no doubt translate into the commercial markets. Incorporating other technologies such as facial recognition is another key to success. Your final comment on creativity on the part of commercial enterprises is what has grown the civilian drone market and their popularity.
Paul