Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Ravaged by an average of 20 storms per year, the Philippines may soon find formidable complements from a fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in mitigating disaster risk and monitoring environmental concerns in the country.

The technology is a medium-range, fixed-wing, short take-off and landing UAV for rapid assessment of disaster-stricken areas. This locally fabricated UAV with a modular flight controller, user-customizable communications system, and a multi-sensor payload system capable of gathering various data from the ground provides greater elbow room for disaster risk managers who can tailor-fit the aircraft according to their need and helps scour hard-to-reach disaster hit areas. Furthermore, the UAV Research and Development Program stimulates the development of a local aerospace industry in the country.