Image courtesy of GYF
Caracas, 11/06/2010, The Blog VAN .- The study of social communication Aeroblog Vanessa Moreno shared with extensive research on the status of the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in Venezuela.
The drone from the past few years have begun to take a big boom in world aviation market. starting from the military lands, now reaching civilians in the world this technology has proved very efficient in its application. Venezuela in recent years has begun to put the eye in this industry.
Taking as its starting point the First Day of UNEFA Technology Conference begins this journalistic work, which will bring next.
"Mama, mama see if it flies!" I remember hearing from my balcony. The child was testing pH and ostentatious generous gift of the Holy Infant this year: a toy airplane remote control. The roar of the creature was that this device really flew. With the small box he had in his hands could do that after a few seconds to run on the ground, the little plane was raised a little over a meter, give a turn and fly back. Simple, but exciting for the 11 years of the fingers that controlled the device.
This idea is not unique to the toy industry. In the world of aviation in Venezuela is developing a technology that can soar without risking human lives in the process. Unmanned aerial vehicles arrived the country in the nineties and after a long period of study developed some prototypes could also be used as tools in missions with military tone, could be used by some civilian authorities as his right hand to monitor oil leaks, urban security, climate change control, pagers from schools and areas suitable for agriculture, among others. However, few people have seen the benefits of this technology causing the aviation industry does not have the confidence of investors to consolidate the industry or UAV ANT (for short). Not content with this, the "comfort" of Venezuela is another factor that stands in the development of this project, and the lack of training centers that generate human capital expertise to develop such advanced technology.
The story behind the breakthrough: the world
Venezuela A plane can fly for several hours to several meters in height and long distances, without pilot and only with a mission charged to your operating system seems as new as the twenty-first century. Despite appearances, this technology dates from the years following World War II when the United States adapted the rudimentary versions of the Germans. From that time is gone, leaving behind the remote control to leave the ships fly autonomously with just a ground monitoring. Australia, Spain and Italy are among countries that have succeeded in bringing this technology to their nations, even in Latin America, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela have unmanned aircraft models themselves.
In a thesis that is at the Universidad Nacional Experimental Politécnica of the Armed Forces of Caracas, written by Carlos Velásquez, you can read that in 1990 the Venezuelan Air Force began to take interest in this technology. But it was in 2003 when he made the first design proposal for unmanned aircraft. Elsa Cárdenas Pedro Boschetti and presented as degree thesis project in which the X-0 ANCE be used as a tool for the detection of oil spills. The use that was intended to give this ship was a new concept, having to date in Venezuela was conceived to ANT (for short) as ships strictly for military use. And is that this technology was built for defense in combat, and long, it was only used by the armies of countries like Iran, Israel and the United States.
Thus begins the rise of these aircraft in the country. After this date were developed degree many jobs, including Eloy El Venezolano Ledezma thanks to a particular investment could become the first prototype of an ANT built in Venezuela, according to Said Arafat aeronautical engineer.
In 2007, the Military Industries Company Limited (Cavim) made an agreement with Iran to acquire the ships Harpy of Iranian origin and hired specialists to train Venezuelan personnel management of this technology as several of the sources.
While this occurred in the military field, the company also acquired foreign private a copy called The Precursor and began construction of these aircraft parts purchased from abroad and built on Venezuelan soil: G & F Technology developed the aviation system of The Lure and The Caribay , as the coordinator of the Development and Integration Division of Aeronautics, Ciro Cabrera.
Finally, Said Arafat with Construcciones Aeronautics Venezuela, CA (CAVENCA) is working currently to develop Santos system. "It is handling the possibility to create a business alliance with G & F to develop this project and bring it to production. It was the first system available for private enterprise or government, "said the representative of CAVENCA.
Well, these are the entities that have entered the world of ANT and drabs that have made up the prototypes and projects that have today. While some are already developing the technology (G & F, CAVENCA), others continue to use foreign and domestic individuals as instructors and application tools for Venezuelan prototype. But still can not speak of an aviation industry consolidated mass that can generate this technology and it may well give the country all the economic, strategic and security that ANT offers.
small aircraft with multiple uses
That the security of the nation would benefit from the development of these systems in aviation? It's true. What can be used as a tool for border observation, location of strategic points of attack, reconnaissance and location of stationary and moving targets? It's true. All benefits are included in the sales package for the military authorities can be completed an aviation industry to consolidate production of ANT.
However, because Venezuela is a country without international conflicts, it is likely that the use of this technology in other areas is more successful. For example, Boschetti-creator of ANCE and current professor UNEFA and USB-not only conceived of his project for the detection of oil leaks on the mining areas of Lake Maracaibo, but also says that in studying the uses worldwide found that it is possible to build a computer system able to detect schools of fish. Another function for which the aircraft Unmanned seem destined is the maritime patrol, road and river and for missions related to the search and rescue of human lives. Also, former thesis student ran into applications that NASA gives to its ANT: climate change detection, storm study and evaluation of ambient pollution levels.
For his part, Arafat shows benefits a bit more attached to the Venezuelan reality. "With unmanned systems can inspect power lines. With built-in thermal imaging cameras can show the locations of corrosion and disruption of the flow, "says engineer before mentioning the economic savings that this represents for the utility and low risk to human safety.
The agricultural sector can no longer benefit from this new technology: the use of thermal cameras can see if there is a pest on the crop, which will attack quickly and avoid losses. Besides this, Arafat said that the unmanned aircraft systems can be evaluated if the seed is getting enough water and have an overview of agricultural development in the area.
Finally, the public safety of this technology also offers many advantages. CAVENCA representative said that it is much easier to send these aircraft to monitor high risk areas at night, as neighborhoods, which would facilitate the construction of efficient strategies for police raids.
unsafe Investors
No matter what the multiple benefits that unmanned aircraft can be brought into the country, yet investment companies are hesitant to invest in these projects, forcing the Venezuelan innovative dig funding for your idea.
Coordinator Draft G & F Technology, Ciro Cabrera believes the factor of distrust of investors for more than 70% of the obstacle to consolidate the industry. "When investment required for a project like this, you need the support of agencies like the State, but they do not see in it the importance of this product and it's important to invest." In the same opinion is Ricardo Benitez, a member of the Development and Integration division of Aeronautics of the company, who says the problem of failure of projects with a solid foundation is the lack of capital and government support. Proof of this is lack of financial support, by certain government agencies, which has required a self-funded through G & F in the development of new technology and only after some years has won the interest of companies such as PDVSA, according to Cabrera.
Arafat also part of the group of engineers and innovators who believe that the lack of credibility in the country's capacity hinders industrial growth in Venezuela. "There are a lot of mistrust. Entrepreneurs do not believe in the country. They guard their hen that lays golden eggs but do not try to innovate, do not invest in professional development and not seek to explore in other areas, which in other countries motivates the economy. In this investment is zero, calls for the engineer.
The "why" comes up
is no secret to anyone that Venezuelans have in our facility chromosome genotype. Well, sometimes what makes us go through cunning and ingenious people, in strengthening aviation industry becomes one of the main obstacles.
Para Ricardo Sanchez, an engineer belonging to G & F, it is unfortunate that this technology for specific services not occur here but it is brought from outside. This comment becomes more significant when comparing prices: a plane unmanned alien is in a price range between 800 thousand and $ 1 million, while producing in the country has a value of $ 250,000, according to unofficial sources. What what are these services? Cabrera makes this point with the phrase "why buy it if I can not I buy out outsiders."
are many people who see the purchase of aircraft Harpies an obvious example of this situation. The web portal was enabled Venemil a space for public opinion on issues related to aviation, where several forum members calling for the importation of this technology companies exist in the country who are working to produce it.
For his part, Arafat mentioned that there is the State's interest to boost this industry, but interest in strengthening political ties with Iran and China diverts the initial motivation, causing the purchase of these aircraft systems abroad.
"Knowledge can not buy"
step into the shoes of government agencies and investors for nearly a rationing Boschetti is logical: "If I had a lot of money and I say ' we will seek a guy who does this' I have to go to France, Germany, Czech Republic, Argentina and Brazil because here in Venezuela there are people who do that. " In short, Boschetti clear that the lack of investors and the import of this technology is due to the low human capital training in Venezuela.
And is that even though the race is over three decades to the order of high school graduates, only UNEFA of Maracay and Caracas offers a curriculum that ensures a degree of their graduates. Not content with this, Boschetti says that the main weakness of the aeronautical engineering degree this university is the total lack of ongoing research lines. On the other hand, the professor admits UNEFA coupled with this lack is the lack of trained personnel to lead such work, ie qualified teachers, master's or doctoral degrees in areas related to aeronautical science.
"You also need a constant source of funding and a suitable physical space to develop this activity," Boschetti claims and adds that "specifically in the heart of Caracas, there are no laboratories or workshops where students can lead to practice their knowledge. " In this sense the lack of long term financial support, in which students can participate, is another factor in the formation of human capital.
This bleak perspective of the training of Venezuelan aeronautical engineers is also shared by the representative of CAVENCA. "It takes personnel to produce this technology, not just graduate aeronautical engineers and make them make airplanes. The knowledge you can not buy, you have to earn it with experience, "says Arafat, adding that there is certainly a personal knowledge in different areas of engineering, but do not have training centers bringing together all the knowledge needed to create ANT.
For this reason, both experts also agree that feedback is needed between industry, research lines and universities to train young engineers with sufficient practical training.
Perseverance is the key to success
Despite all the difficulties, the aerospace company could not stop fighting for a spot in the global market for unmanned aircraft, which for this year will exceed 5500 million dollars, according to A study of UK VisionGain.
Currently G & F and CAVENCA Technology companies are still standing their building projects and experiments with ANT, including alliances have been made to support each other in this process.
"This will reach a point where it becomes a compulsive need for the country. Today it is in experimental stage and suddenly people do not see the need, but when you take it out into the street and start to fly and serve it when people realize how much is saved, what are the benefits and how the savings in human lives, " Ciro Cabrera said the engineer, representative of G & F Technology.
Said Arafat for his part said that the draft CAVENCA is going to a good start, already have the molds and the end of this year is expected to be the first system 100% Venezuelan air. Finally recognized that, despite a market that is broadly, is a commercial sector that we must go slowly gaining, "you have to start promoting the product demonstrations, convincing customers that this technology has a potential that is cheaper and more practical than a manned trading system.
DNA / Aeroblog
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