A Critical Examination of Remote-Controlled Aircraft Technology in Terms of Their Operation in All-Weather Conditions

Remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) or drones are commonly referred to as unmanned/autonomous aerial vehicles. Over the past 5–6 years, there has been a boom in the use of these vehicles in civil and defense applications worldwide. Despite very protective use guidelines, RPAs are used for surveillance and remote-sensing purposes worldwide, and few delivery services are active. On the Indian Subcontinent, the use of drones/RPAs is limited to government organizations and a few private operators that work with educational institutions. Using a case study from India, the paper explores the various requirements, current objectives, technology, and future challenges for RPA/drone operations that can be conducted in all-weather conditions. India’s technology and future benefits are also examined in the paper. Additionally, this paper examines the options for monitoring civil aviation applications related to remote sensing, cargo transport, search and rescue services, and civil surveillance. The utilization of RPAs for the novel COVID-19 pandemic in India has also been reported.