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Able to fly with or without a human crew on board the aircraft, OPVs are a low-cost alternative to UAVs in research, experimentation, and concept exploration, but may also become used in mainstream operations as familiarity with them increases. Unimpeded by a human's physiological limitations, an
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is classified as an OPV. The
National Test Pilot School certified an extensively modified Cessna 150 as an Optionally Piloted Aircraft for use as a training device to aid instruction of flight testing unmanned systems. Additionally, Autonodyne has operated an OPV Cessna 182 since 2018, which uses
58:-O2 Skymaster OPV called Pelican. The OPV provides a low-risk, low-cost test and evaluation alternative to a Predator UAV. The Pelican has also provided UAV support to military exercises which otherwise would not have had access to a real UAV due to cost, availability, or
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OPV is able to operate under more adverse conditions and/or for greater endurance times. Retaining on-board controls, the OPV can operate as a conventional aircraft during missions for which direct human control is preferred or desired as an immediate option.
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to be piloted from the
Autonodyne ground control software, relay communications between Air Traffic Control and the ground pilot, and autonomously detect and avoid hazardous traffic via wing-mounted cameras.
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Foresees Robotic War By Andrew Koch. Jane's Defence Weekly January 22, 2003.
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107:"Pelican, Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies"
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Aircraft capable of uncrewed flight yet able to be manually piloted
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54:(CIRPAS) in Monterey, California operates a highly modified
232:- Sean Hollister, Engaget. Posted Apr 28th 2010 7:13
230:The future of US Army helicopters: pilots optional
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133:"Exclusive: Northrop Unveils Firebird MALE"
161:"Scaled's Latest: Pilot-Optional Spyplane"
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131:Butler, Amy (9 May 2011).
21:optionally piloted vehicle
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270:Unmanned aerial vehicles
159:Grady, Mary (May 2011).
82:Unmanned aerial vehicle
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224:History & Articles
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43:(UAV).
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