Introduction to Unmanned Vehicle Systems

Course Description

ASC1560 — Introduction to Unmanned Vehicle Systems is a college-credit lecture course providing an overview of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) — commonly called drones — and related unmanned vehicles. The course introduces students to UAS technology, regulatory framework (FAA 14 CFR Part 107 for commercial small UAS), airspace and operational considerations, basic flight principles, payload and sensor technologies, and emerging commercial applications. Florida is a leading state for UAS commercial operations and academic research, with substantial program presence at Florida universities (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Florida, Florida Tech, FIU) and growing employer demand across industries.

This course is offered at Eastern Florida State College (Aerospace Technology), Polk State College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and other institutions delivering UAS or aerospace-adjacent college-credit programs. The "ASC" prefix indicates Aerospace; the "1" indicates lower-division college credit. The course typically fulfills introductory technical credit requirements in Aerospace Technology, Aviation, or related A.S./B.S. tracks.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of ASC1560, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the major classes of unmanned aerial systems: small UAS (under 55 lbs); medium UAS; large UAS; tactical/military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV); high-altitude long-endurance (HALE).
• Identify UAS configurations: multi-rotor (quadcopter, hexacopter, octocopter); fixed-wing; hybrid VTOL; rotorcraft.
• Apply FAA 14 CFR Part 107 (Small UAS Rule) requirements: remote pilot certification; operational limits (visual line-of-sight, daylight, weight, altitude, speed); waivers; airspace authorizations.
• Apply FAA airspace classification as it relates to UAS operations: Class A, B, C, D, E, G airspace; controlled vs. uncontrolled; LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) usage.
• Describe UAS technology components: airframe; flight controllers (open-source vs. proprietary); GPS and IMU sensors; radio communications and command-and-control links; ground control stations.
• Describe UAS payload technologies: visible-spectrum and infrared cameras; LIDAR; multispectral and hyperspectral sensors; magnetometers; gas detectors; agricultural sensors (NDVI).
• Apply UAS preflight and operational procedures: airworthiness inspection; battery management; weather minimums; pre-flight checklist; mission planning.
• Apply UAS safety: flight hazards; lithium polymer (LiPo) battery handling; crowd-overflight rules; non-participant safety; emergency procedures (loss of link, low battery, GPS denial).
• Identify commercial UAS applications: aerial photography and videography; real estate; construction inspection and progress monitoring; agriculture (precision agriculture, NDVI); public safety and emergency response; environmental monitoring; surveying and mapping.
• Apply privacy and ethics awareness in UAS operations: state and local laws; surveillance considerations; data ownership and use.

Optional Outcomes

• Develop hands-on UAS flight skills using simulator software or actual flight time (varies by institutional resources).
• Develop introductory data analysis skills for UAS-collected imagery and sensor data.
• Develop awareness of autonomous and beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) emerging operations.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• UAS History and Evolution: From early military reconnaissance drones to modern commercial small UAS; the regulatory milestone of FAA Part 107 (2016) opening commercial UAS operations.
• UAS Classes and Configurations: Multi-rotor, fixed-wing, hybrid VTOL, rotorcraft; size classes from micro to large UAS.
• FAA Part 107 Regulations: Remote Pilot Certificate (eligibility, knowledge test); operational limits (under 55 lbs, daylight or civil twilight with anti-collision lighting, visual line-of-sight, max altitude 400 ft AGL, max speed 100 mph, no overflight of non-participants without authorization); waiver and authorization processes.
• Airspace and LAANC: Class A/B/C/D/E/G airspace; controlled airspace authorization; LAANC for near-real-time authorization in controlled airspace; FAA UAS Facility Maps.
• UAS Technology Components: Airframe materials and design; flight controllers (Pixhawk, ArduPilot, DJI proprietary); IMU (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer); GPS/GNSS receivers; radio links (2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz; longer-range solutions); ground control stations.
• UAS Payloads and Sensors: RGB cameras (still and video); thermal infrared cameras; LIDAR for surveying and 3D mapping; multispectral and hyperspectral sensors for agriculture and environmental monitoring; magnetometers; gas-detection sensors.
• Preflight and Operations: Airworthiness checks; battery health and capacity; weather minimums; mission planning software; pre-flight briefings; checklists.
• UAS Safety: LiPo battery handling and storage; crowd safety; emergency procedures; loss-of-link behavior; geofencing.
• Commercial Applications: Aerial photography/videography; construction monitoring; agriculture (Florida's substantial citrus, sugarcane, vegetable, and ornamental horticulture industries); public safety; environmental monitoring (mangroves, water quality); real estate; insurance adjustment; mapping.
• Privacy and Ethics: Florida-specific UAS laws (Florida Statute 934.50, "Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act"); data ethics; informed consent; non-trespass principles.

Optional Topics

• UAS Flight Skills: Simulator practice (Real Flight, DRL Sim); supervised actual flight where institutional resources permit.
• Data Analysis: Image processing software (Pix4D, DroneDeploy); GIS integration; orthomosaic generation.
• Emerging Operations: Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS); UAS Traffic Management (UTM); Remote ID requirements; autonomous swarm operations.

Resources & Tools

• FAA Part 107 study guides; FAA Remote Pilot Knowledge Test materials
• FAA Advisory Circulars: AC 107-2 (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems)
• FAA UAS Facility Maps (faa.gov/uas)
• LAANC service providers (AirMap, Skyward, Aloft, KittyHawk)
• Industry texts: Henri Eisenbeiss UAV Photogrammetry; Kevin McNamara UAV Pilot Training
• Simulator software (Real Flight, DRL Sim)
• Training UAS (DJI Mini, Mavic series, or institutional Pixhawk-based aircraft)

Career Pathways

UAS represents one of the fastest-growing aviation career sectors. Specific career destinations include:

• Commercial Remote Pilot performing aerial photography, videography, real estate, construction monitoring services.
• UAS Technician at UAS manufacturers and service providers (Florida is home to UAS R&D operations at major aerospace contractors and at startups).
• Public Safety UAS Operator with Florida law enforcement (Florida Highway Patrol, county sheriffs, municipal police), fire departments, and emergency management.
• Agricultural UAS Specialist supporting Florida's citrus, sugarcane, vegetable, and horticultural industries with NDVI imaging and crop monitoring.
• Surveying and Mapping Technician using UAS-LIDAR for construction, infrastructure, and environmental monitoring.
• Defense UAS Operator/Technician with Florida defense contractors (L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin) and military operations at MacDill AFB, NAS Jacksonville, NAS Pensacola, and NAS Whiting.
• UAS Researcher at Florida universities (Embry-Riddle, UF, FIT, FIU) supporting academic and industry research.

Florida specifically hosts substantial UAS activity: the USAF UAS Center of Excellence at MacDill AFB; Embry-Riddle's world-leading UAS research and degree programs; the Atlantic Test Range at Patuxent River (with Florida operational ties); and growing commercial UAS operations across agriculture, construction, real estate, and public safety.

Special Information

FAA Remote Pilot Certificate

Most students completing ASC1560 sit for the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Knowledge Test (administered at FAA Knowledge Testing Centers; 60 questions, 2-hour time limit, 70% passing). The course content directly supports preparation. Successful completion earns the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with sUAS rating, valid for commercial UAS operations.

Course Format

Typically 3 credits, 45 contact hours (lecture only). Some institutions offer companion lab sections (ASC1560L or institutional equivalent) providing supervised flight experience.

FAA Remote ID Compliance

As of September 2023, the FAA requires Remote Identification (Remote ID) for most UAS operations. Coursework includes Remote ID requirements per 14 CFR Part 89: Standard Remote ID, Broadcast Module, or operation in FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIA).

Articulation

ASC1560 typically applies toward A.S. in Aerospace Technology, A.S. in Aviation Maintenance Management, or related programs. Some institutions offer dedicated A.S. or CCC programs in UAS.