unmanned aerial systems (uas)

116 Pages·2017·2.9 MB·English

KJA RECOMMENDATION

UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) –
TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS AND POLICIES:
STRATEGY FOR KARNATAKA
(INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR UAS PILOT-PROJECTS)
PREPARED BY KJA STUDY GROUP

`

Karnataka Jnana Aayoga
(Karnataka Knowledge Commission)
Government of Karnataka

September 2017

(PREPARED BY KJA STUDY GROUP)

(RECOMMENDATION SUBMITTED BY KJA)

UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS
(UAS) – TECHNOLOGIES,
September
APPLICATIONS AND POLICIES:
STRATEGY FOR KARNATAKA 2017
(INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR
UAS PILOT-PROJECTS)

Karnataka Jnana Aayoga

(Karnataka Knowledge Commission)

Government of Karnataka
Cover picture credit
https://pixabay.com/en/drone
-online source of free High-Quality images

Published by:
Karnataka Jnana Aayoga
(Karnataka Knowledge Commission)
Government of Karnataka
Room No. 432, 433, 438 and 439
4th Floor, Vikasa Soudha
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Veedhi
Bengaluru – 560 001
e-mail: [email protected]
www.karnataka.gov.in/jnanaayoga
Dr. K. Kasturirangan
Chairman - KJA
MESSAGE
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are an emerging area of automation and has
significant potential – not just as a social tool that can change local governance BUT
also as a commercial activity for a large estimated market demand. Policies for UAS
are still in definition stage as they have to co-exist with aircrafts in our airspace AND
also have to build considerable safety and security features that exist in other
technology – aircraft, automobiles etc. There is very limited end-to-end experience of
UAS applications and thus undertaking pilot-studies and developing robust
procedures is important.
Karnataka Jnana Aayoga (KJA) recognized the potential of UAS and decided to
undertake a study on the technology, applications and policies of UAS – with a view
that Karnataka can initiate a strategic plan for being the leader in this area. KJA
debated that UAS can not only serve governance and become a commercial
success BUT it is also the perfect “system study tool” for our younger generation – thus
it must also be embedded in education systems. Karnataka has potential to emerge
as a Manufacturing hub for UAS – along with, a boost to various sensor and payload
technology.
I am very happy that KJA has brought out an excellent report on UAS Technology,
Applications and Policies and has outlined a very well-define UAS Pilot Project. The
report has been the outcome of a very knowledgeable Study Group that KJA
constituted under the excellent leadership of Dr. Baldev Raj and Dr. B.V. Naidu, apart
from many expert Members. I am happy that the Group has had intense consultations
and workshops to obtain a wide range of views for finalizing the report. The UAS Report
has also been discussed with the S&T Department – especially with the Hon’ble
Minister for S&T. Finally, KJA discussed the UAS report in its 7th Meeting and
endorsed/approved the report as a formal KJA Recommendation.
I take this opportunity to thank the KJA Study Group – especially, Dr. Baldev Raj and
Dr. B.V. Naidu and also all the KJA Members for this efforts and guidance – collectively,
KJA has reached an important milestone of submitting yet another innovative KJA
recommendation to the state of Karnataka.
It gives me great pleasure that this KJA Recommendation on UAS is now submitted to
Government of Karnataka – the Government now has a road map for developing the
UAS segment and implementing the recommendations in Mission mode, as
recommended by KJA.
KJA Recommendation
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) – TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS AND
POLICIES: STRATEGY FOR KARNATAKA (INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR UAS
PILOT-PROJECTS)
KJA Recommendation
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) – TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS AND
POLICIES: STRATEGY FOR KARNATAKA (INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR UAS
PILOT-PROJECTS)

FOREWORD
Karnataka Jnana Aayoga (KJA) has been established by Government of Karnataka
(GOK) as an expert recommendatory body on innovation and knowledge activities
in governance systems and for benefit to the state. With 30 experts from various walks
of life, KJA is a unique “pool of knowledge and expertise” that works with the GOK
Departments and many institutions to consider and recommend unique ideations –
that are not only relevant but have a far-reaching impact for future state
development.

Over the past 3 years, KJA has already submitted 8 unique recommendations for
various sectors to the Karnataka Government. The progressive state government of
Karnataka has already taken up implementation of 6 of these KJA recommendations
through its various Departments.

KJA identified the technology and applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) as
having potential for Karnataka to take leadership. The main reason is that remote-
flying technology and miniaturization, with lowering of costs, have created “flying
systems” which every citizen can experience in local area. Fitted with unique
cameras, sensors and payloads, the UAS becomes a high-potential tool for remote
survey and data collection; delivery of small “consignments” and even bring
exhilarating experience to the young of “building and piloting flying objects”.
Worldover, UAS are drawing great attention from governments – because they can
use it for good-governance; from companies – because they can make a business of
it; by academia – because there are tremendous research opportunities for
advancement. The technology is mature and there are umpteen examples of UAS
applications – though in pockets and demonstrative and very few are holistically
operational. Policies for UAS are still under grappling in various nations – the UAS
systems have to be “fit into” the already well-established aviation sector and the
stringent aviation safety/security procedures are seen as a benchmark for UAS
systems. Thus, challenges do exist for UAS Policies.

UAS can be used at local levels, and for smaller areas, for precision applications for
Agriculture monitoring and operations, Urban and City Management, Property Tax
assessment, Forest mensuration (Karnataka Forest Department has tried out examples
for this), Mine monitoring and management, traffic monitoring and civic operations,
Disaster management, Archaeological site mapping, infrastructure planning and
assessment and many others. Different types of UAS with a variety of imaging,
biological, delivery, gas-sniffer payloads can play an important role in governance.
UAS also have tremendous utilization in military applications – in fact, large military
market is spurring UAS technology and its development globally. However, KJA
decided to mainly address civilian applications of UAS – which itself is of considerable
size and importance.
KJA Recommendation
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) – TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS AND
POLICIES: STRATEGY FOR KARNATAKA (INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR UAS
PILOT-PROJECTS)

KJA looks at UAS from 2 perspectives – one, as a manufacturing capability that needs
to be developed to address the domestic and global market. Such a capability is very
much essential – this will not only develop technological capability in the country but
will also be the source of employment and business to many Indian entities. Further, if
manufacturing capability is not developed, most UAS and drones would be imported
(which is happening now) – mainly from China, which has a large manufacturing
system. India must develop the manufacturing capability and utilize its large
technological skill and business talent and make a mark in the industry sector. Second,
KJA is convinced that applications of UAS for governance have high potential –
especially at local grass-root level of panchayats, villages, cities, industrial areas,
traffic corridors, mines and sites etc. It is important to have an end-to-end standard
operating procedure worked out because one has to address permission/clearances,
flying and data collection, data analysis and information extraction, decision support
information etc. Another aspect is to build manufacturing capability for UAS – it has
to start from a supported approach involving academia and universities – they must
take up join manufacturing thrust and yield a capability building in the state as this will
help the industrial production of UAS.

Bengaluru has the best of aviation and aircraft expert knowledge in its multitude of
agencies – thus, KJA is of the view that Karnataka could take the lead in this area.
After careful consideration in KJA, over few meetings, it was agreed that an expert
group must be constituted to consider the wide ranging technology, applications and
policy aspect of UAS and craft a strategic plan for future development of UAS. KJA
established an expert group of 18 Members from different agencies and expertise –
Co-Chaired by 2 eminent experts, one Dr. Baldev Raj, Director of NIAS and second, Dr
BV Naidu, an acclaimed IT Professional. The Group had members from various
national laboratories, academia of Karnataka, experts from industries and other
experts, apart from GOK officials. The Study Group had innumerable consultations,
both within the Group and in 3 workshops outside the Group. Within a period of an
year, the Group had a draft report ready – this draft report was subjected to a series
of intense discussion with GOK Departments at various levels – at the department
officials level, with Ministerial level and also with the Chief Secretary of Karnataka.
Finally, on September 7, 2017, KJA formally considered the draft UAS Report of the
Study Group and approved/endorsed the KJA Recommendation on UAS Technology,
Applications and Policies.

KJA, as part of its recommendation, has honed down on 5 major recommendations:
• Inclusion of UAS as part of Karnataka Aviation Policy and thrust to
manufacturing capability to make Karnataka a global hub for UAS
• Bringing UAS study as part of Higher Education and research so that younger
generation are exposed to the “systems experience of UAS”
• Specific support for indigenous design and manufacturing of UAS by a
challenge fund through academia+industry
KJA Recommendation
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) – TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS AND
POLICIES: STRATEGY FOR KARNATAKA (INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR UAS
PILOT-PROJECTS)

• Developing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for various Application areas
in Governance.
• Establish a Mission mode programme and 3-tiered management structure in
state for implementing the UAS strategy

I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to the Study Group-UAS Members and
to the 2 Co-Chairs - Dr. Baldev Raj and Dr. B.V. Naidu for their excellent contributions
and leadership in preparing this report. I take this opportunity to thank all KJA Members
– who guided this activity through various deliberations. I also thank Mr. Vijaykrishna,
Member Secretary of the Study Group, Ms. Nandhini and Ms. Jayashri of KJA
Secretariat who have been helping out at “ground level” and doing all the nitty-gritty
coordination, research and drafting – their contributions are noteworthy of mention.

Dr. Kasturirangan, Chairman, KJA provided the key leadership to KJA and also
involved himself in many of the UAS technical discussions and workshop deliberations
– his vast knowledge and wide systems experience, from managing space missions
and other major programmes, has helped in crafting a ‘holistic action plan” for UAS
in Karnataka. I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Kasturirangan for his guidance,
mentoring and overall steering of KJA activities and for the UAS report.

On behalf of KJA, I acknowledge, with gratitude and thanks, for the excellent support
of Hon’ble Minister of S&T, GOK; Chief Secretary, GOK; Additional Chief Secretary,
Finance Dept. of GOK; Principal Secretary, S&T; Additional Chief Secretary, UDD of
GOK; Principal Secretary, Agri. Department of GOK and ADG of Police of GOK – all of
whom were convinced of the potential of UAS and shared the KJA vision for the need
for Karnataka to take leadership. They readily supported the KJA and also guided in
specific on considering implementation aspects for UAS and the Pilot Projects. In fact,
because of the support of the Hon’ble Minister and these key officials, Hon’ble CM of
Karnataka accepted Dr. Kasturirangan’s suggestion on UAS Plot Project and has
earmarked budget for same in FY 2017-18 budget – this shows the immense conviction
and support for the UAS applications.

On behalf of the KJA, it is a matter of great pleasure for me that KJA Recommendation
on UAS Technologies, Applications and Policies – Strategy for Karnataka is now
submitted to GOK and wish that it will be implemented soon.
Mukund Kadursrinivas Rao,
Member Secretary – KJA
[email protected]
September 18, 2017
KJA Recommendation
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) – TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS AND
POLICIES: STRATEGY FOR KARNATAKA (INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR UAS
PILOT-PROJECTS)