International Trends in Patents, Research Funding and Technology for Unmanned Aerial Systems

This 67-page study looks closely at trends in research by universities, governments, militaries and private industry on aerial drones.  The study examines developments in the USA, China, the EEC, Japan, South Korea and other centers of drone research.    The study was written by John Palmisano who after graduating Carnegie Mellon University with an engineering degree worked in artificial intelligence and aviation engineering for 19 years, including 10 years at the Naval Research Laboratory as a robotics specialist and research engineer.  During his time at the NRL he authored nearly two dozen scientific papers.

This timely report helps its readers to answer questions such as: which organizations are the major patent holders in unmanned aerial vehicles? Where is the most cutting edge research being conducted worldwide? What is the role of the US military? The Chinese military? The Government of South Korea? EEC?  Japan?  Which universities worldwide enjoy the most funding support for drone research and which sources are funding them?  Which government laboratories and agencies are most involved in drone research and at what level?

What is the role of fuel cell technology? Anti-drone technology?  The study contains a detailed bibliography and references to sites where some source materials can be downloaded, often free of charge, enabling further study and analysis. For universities, the report is an excellent benchmarking took, facilitating comparisons with the research efforts of other peer institutions, and furthering research into research, licensing, sponsored research and spin off opportunities.