Proponents of Canada's unmanned vehicle systems (UVS) technology remain bullish on their sector's potential, beyond its traditional military uses.
While only in limited commercial use today, these "drones" - air, land or sea vehicles - can do a variety of tasks, from remote mapping to monitoring.
"They can do dull, dirty and dangerous jobs easier without putting people at risk," says Ian Glenn, president emeritus and founder of UVS Canada, an Ottawa-based non-profit group that represents the UVS industry.
"We're seeing the forefront of technology - technology being adapted to solve real problems."
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| Photo courtesy of Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems |
| A Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems pneumatic launcher sends an unmanned air vehicle skyward. |
Globally, the unmanned ground vehicle segment alone could represent a potential $1.3-billion market by 2020, says Sterling Cripps, vice-president of marketing and program development for the Medicine Hat, Alta.-based Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS), a non-profit centre dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of all types of unmanned vehicles.
"Right now, there's a lot of interest in (UVS for) agriculture, such as identifying areas on the ground that are overly hydrated or dehydrated, so they can determine fertilizer applications," Cripps says. "In real estate, it's becoming a popular and economic choice for mapping."
He adds UVS interest is also high among forestry, oil, gas and mining companies. Oilsands companies, for example, may one day use UVS to remotely operate fully automated, oversize dumptrucks on their plant sites.
"Big industry is fully aware of the benefits of autonomous vehicles and the commercialization aspect of using robotics. Now, it's a case of streamlining UVS into affordable commercial applications," says Cripps. "It's happening, but not on a grand scale."
CropCam, a company based in Stony Mountain, Man., is offering an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system that provides on-demand images for crops, drainage, spraying or precision agriculture. The six-pound radio-controlled UAV glider is equipped with a digital camera and pre-programmed ground-control software.
"We developed it for agriculture, but 75 per cent of our sales are not to agriculture, it's anywhere you need an image on demand," says CropCam's project director Lisa Shaw.
"The applications are as diverse as your imagination can come up with."
Designed as an inexpensive alternative to satellite use or flying an airplane over a field, the units list at $6,999. More than 50 UAVs were sold last year to clients in 17 different countries and Shaw says even more sales are expected this year.
The department of earth and atmospheric Sciences at the Edmonton-based University of Alberta plans to purchase a UVS and launch a scientific mission as early as next year.
"It would be helpful and be able to do what is presently done by airplanes," says Christian Haas, a sea ice geophysicist at the U of A. He's hoping that within the next five years, bigger UAVs capable of carrying larger payloads will become a reality.
Richmond, B.C.-based MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), along with Israel Aerospace Industries/MALAT Division (IAI), also recently announced a successful "First Flight in Canada" milestone for the company's UAV service known as Ardea.
MDA said it was the first time a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV has flown in Canada for civil applications.
The IAI Heron, with a wingspan of 16.6 metres, took off on its first flight on March 12 at Suffield in southern Alberta.
The international UAV market is growing and MDA is positioning Canada as one of the world leaders in bringing the benefits of UAVs to new civil markets.
"An international leader in aerospace, remote sensing and information solutions, MDA is committed to bringing UAV-based surveillance and monitoring services to commercial sectors of the economy," the company said in a statement. "These systems are cost-effective, safe, and highly versatile alternatives to traditional aerial image acquisition and monitoring techniques.
MDA's Ardea UAV Service is located in Suffield and offers a state-of-the-art R&D and training facility for the application and advancement of UAVs.
Military demand for unmanned vehicles - used in a variety of ways on combat and surveillance missions - has driven much of the industry's development. "What we're seeing now with some maturity in the technologies are the uses in the civilian sector," adds UVS Canada's Ian Glenn.
But more support is needed, he says, if Canada is to realize its potential in the growth of UVS technology. "We can easily lead the world," Glenn says. "Everyone is sort of at the starting blocks on the commercial side and our place can be assured with the right support."
Cripps, however, believes much more needs to be done and says the CCUVS is acting as a catalyst to help the industry overcome regulatory and operational obstacles. "We are truly behind the world in unmanned vehicles," he says. "Regrettably, Canada has not seized the opportunity that is out there. I know we are behind and we are working hard to catch up."
The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems received a $3-million shot in the arm late last year from the Rural Alberta Development Fund, an independent not-for-profit company created to stimulate rural Alberta growth projects.
Additional funds from Western Economic Diversification Canada are enabling CCUVS to purchase a $1-million Finnish-made mobile UAV launcher, which it will lease to companies needing to work in unforgiving terrain such as muskegs or rocky areas that are not suitable for traditional aviation.
Federal and provincial regulations governing the use of UAVS are also still being developed. For example, special flight operating certificates are now required for the use of UAVs so they can operate in Canadian airspace.
"Right now it's a big deal," says Cripps. "It takes a lot of work, a lot of effort to get clearance to fly an unmanned vehicle in these spaces. But we are part of a group working to identify the problems, opportunities and solutions to integrating unmanned air vehicles into common airspace."
Education is also a big factor in the development of a viable Canadian UAV marketplace.
Glenn doesn't believe that enough members of the business community even know that the technology is out there.
"I think they think it's still science fiction," he says.
Web Watch: www.ccuvs.com
(Laura Severs can be reached at laura@businessedge.ca)
