Unmanned Systems North America 2005

International Programs Review

UAV Activity in Japan
Overview
June 28, 2005
Yasushi Kitagawa
JAPAN UAV ASSOCIATION

Contents
1. Background
2. Present
3. Perspective
4. Summary
5. JUAV
6. Safety Standards

1. Background
1.1 Military Use
- Drones
Licensing Arrangement
ResearchDevelopment
1.2 Commercial Use
- Unmanned Helicopters
Civil UAV Pioneer
Apply pesticides

History of UAV Systems in Japan

In 1970, licensed production of BQM-34 for Japan Maritime

Self Defense Force was started.
Since 1980s, many kinds of UAV systems were developed not
only for military use but also for commercial use.
1970

BQM-34

1980

1990

2000

Production
J/AQM-1

Military
MilitaryUse
Use
CommercialUse
CommercialUse

YAMAHARCASS
(Co-Axial Rotor)
YAMAHAR-50&RMAX

Development / Production
FFOS
(Flying Forward Observation System)
Development
Production

FUJIRPH 1 Development

Offered by JAXA

Development

FUJIRPH 2
Development / Production

JAXAHSFD Development
(High Speed Flight Demonstration)

JAXA/NICT Development
SPF(Stratospheric Platform
Offered by JAXA/NICT
Airship System)
Development / Production

Civil UAV Pioneer - Agricultural use

2000 Unmanned Helicopters are in service for agricultural use in Japan.

Operated in sight.
Low speed (less than 10m/s) and low altitude (less than 50m) .

Fuji RPH 2

Length
: 5.4 m
Rotor diameter
: 4.8 m
Gross weight
: 330kg
Maximum payload : 100kg
Usable fuel
: 20kg

YAMAHA RMAX

Length
: 3.1 m
Rotor diameter
: 3.6 m
Gross weight
: 94 kg
Maximum payload : 31kg

Transition of Insect Pest Control Area

by Manned and Unmanned Helicopter

Turning Point

2. Present
2.1 Military Use
- Mission Extended
Reconnaissance
Multi-Purpose

FFOS (Flying Forward Observation System)

GDT
GDT

UAV
UAV

TOP
TOP

(Take Off
Platform)

LRCS
LRCS

(Ground Data
Terminal)

MPCS
MPCS

(Mission Planning
Control Station)

(Launch and Recovery

Control Station)
REF
FHI Activities in the Field of
UAV Systems Development:
Paris Airshow 2003 Kunio SUEMATSU

Multi-Role UAV

Parachute

Data-Link antenna
Engine

Avionics
IR-image
sensor

Length
Spanextended
Spanfolded
Height
Power plant

Control actuator
Wing extension actuator

Air-bag
Data-Link antenna

Turbofan
Design and Evaluation of TACOM Control Logics: ICAS2004
Kenshi MIYATA, Tadahiko UDAGAWA

2. Present
2.2 Commercial Use
- Autonomous
Into non-segregated airspace
Non-agricultural purpose

Expansion of Commercial Use

Observation of Volcanoes

Remote Sensing

Inspection of Damage
for Highway

etc.

Commercial Use of UAVs in Japan

Unmanned helicopters with autonomous flight control systems are
developed and being used for active volcano observations.

Yamaha Autonomous RMAX

FHI RPH2A

Commercial Use of UAVs in Japan

Several fixed wing type UAVs are developed mainly for observations
including flexible kite-type plane and MAVs.

Nippi PC-controlled plane

Hitachi and Kawada MAV

SkyRemote Kite-Plane

Commercial Use of UAVs in Japan

Several UAVs are developed for technical demonstration

Offered by JAXA/NICT

JAXA/NICT SPF
(Stratospheric Platform
Airship System)

Offered by JAXA

JAXA HSFD
(High Speed Flight Demonstration)

3. Perspective
3.1 Military Use
- National Security
Studying, developing and adopting

3. Perspective
3.2 Commercial Use
- Operational Requirement in Japan
- Global Interest
Certification
Air Traffic Management

Circumstances on
UAV Operations in Japan

UAV for Military Use

Operated in restricted airspace

UAV for
Commercial Use
Operated in
open airspace

4. Summary
Commercial use of UAVs is widespread in Japan.
UAV market in military and commercial
applications will grow steadily.
Social demands for safe operation of UAVs
increase.

5. JUAV
Founded in 2004
Representing Japanese UAV Industries
Establishing and running safety standards
applicable for civil UAVs operated in Japan
Advised by Ministry of Economy,Trade and
Industry

Members of JUAV (in alphabetic order)

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd.
Hirobo, Ltd.
Kawada Industries, Inc.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
NEC Corporation
Sky Remote Co., Ltd.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
Yanmar Agricultural Equipment Co., Ltd.
(11 corporate members as of today)

Process to develop to UAV-related

standards
Vehicle type
Flight condition

Rotary Wing

Fixed Wing

Future step

Future step

Standards were
established

Standards are
under discussion

Flight in the same airspace as manned

aircraft

Flight over inhabited area

Flight over uninhabited area
Out of sight
In sight
Agricultural chemical spraying
(low speed,low altitude and
within sight)

Standard of Unmanned Helicopter for safe

operation is enacted by JAAA

6. Safety Standards
Safety Standards for Commercial-Use, Unmanned,
Rotary-Wing Aircraft in Uninhabited Areas, Jan.2005
Applicable for non-agricultural purposes*
From a voluntary standard to a substantial national
standard
*For agricultural purposes, Japan Agricultural Aviation
Association ( under supervision of the Ministry of
Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries of Japan ) controls.

Contact
JAPANUAVASSOCIATION
GeneralSecretaryYasushiKitagawa
FujiHeavyIndustriesLtd.
1-1-11 Yonan, Utsunomiya
320-8564 Japan
Tel.81-28-684-7060
Fax.81-28-684-7071
http//www.juav.org