Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are revolutionizing our approach to flight. Whether monitoring severe weather or conducting a military operation, new versions of these machines and the components that operate them are being developed and implemented at an unprecedented rate as corporations, governments, academia, and private individuals all seek to understand and capitalize upon this innovative, expanding field.

Whether for classroom use or self-study, Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems is the most authoritative single-volume reference available on UAS design. It investigates all elements of the design process, including architectural options and design drivers across diverse system classes. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end unmanned aircraft system and a deeper appreciation for the multidisciplinary nature of UAS design. New to the second edition are chapters on Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL), Airships, and Unconventional Vehicles as well as Special Topics in Unmanned Aviation. The latter discusses export and arms control, airspace integration, and societal issues that are increasingly a part of public discourse.

Topics include:

Use of a multidisciplinary systems philosophy

Data-driven analysis

Launch and recovery techniques

Derivations of electric aircraft performance equations

Methods for defining UAS products

Integrating diverse payload types

Airborne remote-sensing physics, sensor assembly design, and operational techniques

System-level mission systems' effectiveness

Full motion video imagery chain

Overview of ground control station types and functionality