9781422275146

Cool Careers in Science

Drones for security Building drones Be a drone pilot Drone sports

Pilots

ALTERNATIVE REALITY DEVELOPERS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SCIENTISTS COMPUTER GAME & APP DEVELOPERS DRIVERLESS VEHICLE DEVELOPERS DRONE PILOTS ENTERTAINMENT ENGINEERS FORENSIC SCIENTISTS PROFESSIONAL HACKERS RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKERS ROBOTICS DEVELOPERS

Cool Careers in Science

Pilots

ANDREW MORKES

MASON CREST PHILADELPHIA MIAMI

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free)

Copyright © 2020 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

First printing

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HARDBACK ISBN: 978-1-4222-4297-1 SERIES ISBN: 978-1-4222-4292-6 E-BOOK ISBN: 978-1-4222-7514-6

Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress

Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Interior and cover design: Jana Rade, impact studios Interior layout: Annalisa Gumbrecht, Studio Gumbrecht Production: Michelle Luke Proofreader: Susan Uttendorfsky

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER 5: The Future of Drone Technology and Careers . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Further Reading & Internet Resources . . 93 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Educational Video Links . . . . . . . 96 Author Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CHAPTER 1: What Do Drone Pilots Do? . . 11 CHAPTER 2: Terms of the Trade . . . . 41 CHAPTER 3: Preparing for the Field and Making a Living . . . . . . . . . . 49 CHAPTER 4: Key Skills and Methods of Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

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Introduction

Where would we be without science? Well, we’d be without computers, smartphones, and other cutting-edge technologies. Crimes would take longer to solve without forensic analysis techniques. We’d be stuck relying on environmentally unfriendly fossil fuels instead of using green energy. And life would be less fun because we wouldn’t have drones, awe-inspiring and physics-defying rollercoasters, and the computer and video games that we play for hours and hours. Without science and technology, life would not be as interesting or as fun. Job markets are sometimes strong and sometimes weak, but a career in science (which, for the purposes of this series, includes the related fields of technology and engineering) is almost a sure path to a comfortable life. The following paragraphs provide more information on why a career in science is a great choice. Good pay. People in science careers earn some of the highest salaries in the work world. Median annual salaries for those in computer and information technology careers in the United States are $84,580, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDL). This salary is much higher than the median earnings ($37,690) for all careers. Additionally, engineering professionals earn $79,180 a year, while those in life, physical, and social science occupations earn $64,510. Science professionals who become managers or who launch their own businesses can earn anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000 or more. Strong employment prospects. There are shortages of science workers throughout the world, according to the consulting firm ManpowerGroup. In fact, engineering workers are the third most in-demand occupational field

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in the world. Technicians rank fifth, and computer and information technology professionals rank sixth. There’s a shortage of software engineers in more than twenty countries, including in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the United Kingdom, according to the recruitment firm Michael Page. Other science careers where there is a shortage of workers include electronics engineers (nineteen countries), electrical engineers (sixteen countries), data analysts (eleven countries), and hardware engineers (six countries), among other workers. The USDL predicts that employment of computer and information technology professionals in the United States will grow by 13 percent during the next decade. Career opportunities for those in life, physical, and social science occupations will grow by 10 percent. Both of these career fields are growing faster than the average for all careers. The outlook is also good for engineering professionals. Employment is expected to grow by 7 percent during the next decade. The strongest opportunities will be found in renewable energy and robotics. By 2026, the USDL predicts that there will be more than 876,000 new jobs in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering fields. Rewarding work environment and many career options. A career in science is fulfilling because you get to use both your creative and practical sides to develop new technologies (or improve existing ones), solve problems, and make the world a better place. There’s a common misconception that science workers spend most of their time in dreary, windowless laboratories. While there is certainly laboratory work, science workers also spend a lot of time in the field testing, troubleshooting, and trying out their inventions or discoveries. Some science professionals launch their own businesses, which can be both fun and very rewarding.

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Job opportunities are available throughout the United States and the world. Science professionals play such an important role in our modern world that there are jobs almost anywhere, although most positions are found in big cities. IS A CAREER IN SCIENCE RIGHT FOR ME? Test your interest. How many of these statements do you agree with? ___ My favorite class in school is science. ___ I also enjoy computer science classes. ___ I like to learn about scientific breakthroughs. ___ I like to build and fix things. ___ I enjoy doing science experiments. ___ I enjoy coming up with ideas on how to solve the world’s problems. ___ I am curious about how things work. ___ I like to invent things. ___ I am creative and have a good imagination. ___ I like to build electronics and other things that require electricity. ___ I am good at math. If many of the statements above describe you, then you should consider a career in the sciences. But you don’t need to select a career right now. Check out this book on a career as a drone pilot and other books in the series to learn more about occupational paths in the sciences and related fields. Good luck with your career exploration!

Introduction 9

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

composite material : a substance made of two or more materials that, when combined, has different chemical or physical properties from the original substances Global Positioning System (GPS) : a satellite-based navigation system established by the U.S. Department of Defense that is made up of at least twenty-four satellites; most drones have a built-in GPS system that allows pilots to track their position/ location, while an autonomous drone uses GPS to navigate as it conducts missions poachers : people who engage in the illegal hunting, capturing, and killing of wild animals—for entertainment or profit UNESCO Heritage Site : a place designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having special cultural or physical importance, such as Yellowstone National Park in the U.S., the Acropolis in Greece, and the Taj Mahal in India

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Chapter 1

WHAT DO DRONE PILOTS DO? ALL ABOUT DRONES What’s that in the sky!? It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a drone! Drones are everywhere these days, but what are they, and how are people using them? Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles that are made of lightweight composite materials that reduce weight and increase maneuverability. They can be

equipped with a variety of additional equipment such as cameras, a Global Positioning System (GPS) ,

The U.S. government’s Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle.

GPS-guided missiles, navigation systems, sensors, and so on.

Drones come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Some are smaller than a computer

Introduction: What Do Drone Pilots Do? 11

mouse, while the U.S. government’s Global Hawk is 44 feet (13 meters) long and has a 115-foot (35-meter) wingspan. Larger drones that are used for military or commercial (business) purposes often have fixed wings and require short runways to take off. There are also VTOL drones, which can take off, fly, hover, and land vertically. (VTOL stands for Vertical Take-Off and Landing.) Many of these are quadcopters (a drone that has four horizontal rotors), but not all. Drones are built in different ways for different needs. For example, a racing drone is built for durability and speed, while a drone used in the motion picture industry would be slower and have a high-quality camera attached. Drones can be specially designed to work in or near extreme heat or cold, radiation, or in other demanding environments.

Drones can be piloted by a single person, by a group of people, or they can be directed by a computerized piloting system. Some drones are fully autonomous. This means that they’re programmed

A drone pilot uses handheld controls to pilot a drone.

to do various functions (e.g., take off, take photographs or video in one area, travel to another area to perform a different task, then return to mission headquarters and land).

One of the best things about drones is that young people like you can purchase or borrow an inexpensive drone and have a lot of fun flying it. You might love flying drones so much that you’ll decide to pursue a career as a drone pilot.

12 COOL CAREERS IN SCIENCE: DRONE PILOTS

DID YOU KNOW? Drones have been around since July 1849, when the Austrians launched 200 pilotless balloons mounted with bombs to attack the city of Venice.

DRONE PILOTS Drone pilots operate unmanned aerial vehicles. They work for companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations. Some pilots are self- employed, meaning that they launch their own businesses and offer services to clients who need drone pilots. Although they work in many industries, most drone pilots do the following. • Conduct pre-mission meetings with customers and/or flight directors • Create flight plans that detail what needs to be accomplished during the mission • Recheck weather conditions • Conduct safety risk assessments prior to flight • Launch the drone by using the controller to direct it to take

off, by throwing it into the air—with the assistance of a catapult or other launching device—or by releasing it from a manned aircraft • Pilot the drone by using a joystick, computer displays, or other control devices to complete the goals of the mission

CHAPTER 1: WHAT DO DRONE PILOTS DO? 13

• Recover the drone at the end of the mission (for some positions) • Edit and otherwise prepare video, photographs, or data collected for use by others (for some positions)

OTHER NAMES FOR DRONE PILOTS Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilots Drone Operators Unmanned Aircraft Pilots Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilots Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operators

CAREER PATHS FOR DRONE PILOTS Working as a drone pilot can be very interesting and rewarding because there are so many areas you can work in—from the film industry to search and rescue to journalism. Here are the most popular career paths for drone pilots. AGRICULTURE Farmers no longer have to walk rows and rows of crops to learn about potential issues that could affect the health of their corn, soybeans, and other vegetables. They’re now using drones to:

• Take aerial images to monitor crop health, including checking for pests (bugs, etc.), flooding, drought conditions (little or no water), weeds, and nitrogen deficiencies (nitrogen is a nutrient that is key toplant growth) • Find lost livestock (farmanimals suchas cattle, sheep, pigs, andgoats)

14 COOL CAREERS IN SCIENCE: DRONE PILOTS

• Measure crop height to determine if the crops are healthy • Gather data to create topographical maps and models, which are detailed, accurate graphic representations of features of the earth such as crops, roads, mountains, and rivers • Crop dust. Drones can now carry tanks of fertilizers (chemicals that help plants grow) and pesticides (chemicals that kill unwanted pests, such as insects) in order to spray, or “dust,” crops. This task can be done with much more precision than if done by a tractor. It also keeps humans from exposure to harmful pesticides.

Adronepilot preparesadrone that will conduct aerial surveillance over flooded farm fields.

CHAPTER 1: WHAT DO DRONE PILOTS DO? 15

ARCHAEOLOGY Archaeologists still need to dig to uncover hidden treasures, but they also now use drones to make discoveries that are not evident to the human eye. Here are some examples of how drones are being used: • In Ironwood Forest National Monument in Arizona, archaeologists flew a GoPro camera mounted on a drone over the rocky desert in an effort to better understand the ancient Hohokam Native American culture. Later, the archaeologists used software to produce a 3-D virtual model of the Hohokam village. The 3-D model is being used by archaeologists to better understand the Hohokam culture and as a teaching tool in a local museum. • In Ireland, the combination of a drought and the quick thinking of Anthony Murphy, a local author and photographer, resulted in the discovery of the spot where a 5,000-year-old henge once stood at the Brú na Bóinne archaeological landscape, a UNESCO Heritage Site about 30 miles north of Dublin. (A henge is a prehistoric monument consisting of a circle of upright stones or wood that was used for religious ceremonies and other purposes. Stonehenge in the United Kingdom is the most famous example of a henge.) Murphy launched a camera-enabled drone and discovered discolorations in the soil that spread about 492 feet (150 meters) wide in a perfectly circular pattern. In a New York Times story about the discovery, Michael MacDonagh, Chief Archaeologist for Ireland’s National Monuments Service, called it a “once-in-a-lifetime” find that would “add greatly to our knowledge of this magical archaeological landscape.”

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