INTRODUCTION

The past few years have seen the rapid development and availability of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Popularly called “drones,” they are remotely operated vehicles that can be fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. UAVs are being developed for use in everything from product delivery (e.g., Albright, 2014) to farming (e.g., Papadopoulos et al., 2014).

Especially popular are micro UAV helicopters, which are usually in the form of small aerial platforms that have four or more propellers (Fig. 1). This configuration provides great maneuverability, stability, and control. Newer UAVs have built-in GPS systems that provide even greater control and make it easy for an inexperienced person to quickly learn the basics of flying. Their size also makes them easy to transport to even the most remote areas (Fig. 1). They require very little launch and recovery space, and the cost of a basic unit is such that even the total loss of a vehicle is not financially catastrophic (Carrivick et al., 2013). Their low cost also means that multiple UAVs can be used, providing for redundancy if one is lost or damaged.

Manuscript received 10 Oct. 2014; accepted 25 Jan. 2015

doi: 10.1130/GSATG232GW.1