UAVs: Types, Classifications, and Key Features Explained

This topic explores the various ways UAVs are categorized, such as by range, size, weight, autonomy, altitude, and power sources.

H1: Terminology

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft with no human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. The term "drone" has been used since the early days of aviation. The term UAV is commonly applied to military use cases. A similar term is remotely piloted aerial vehicle (RPAV).

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There are usually five categories when UAVs are classified by range and endurance: very close range UAVs (<5 km), close range UAVs (5–50 km), short range UAVs (50–150 km), medium range UAVs (150–650 km), and long range UAVs (>650 km).

H2、Classification types

There are usually four categories when UAVs are classified by size, with at least one of the dimensions (length or wingspan) meeting the following respective limits: Micro/Very small UAVs (<50 cm), Mini/Small UAVs (50 cm–2 m), Medium UAVs (5–10 m), Large UAVs (>10 m).

1、Range and endurance

These include aerial photography, area coverage, precision agriculture, forest fire monitoring, river monitoring, environmental monitoring, weather observation, policing and surveillance, infrastructure inspections, product deliveries, entertainment, and drone racing.

2、Size

• Micro/Very small UAVs: less than 50 cm (often used for indoor inspection, hobbyist activities)

• Mini/Small UAVs: 50 cm to 2 m (commonly used in agriculture, surveying, and photography)

• Medium UAVs: 5–10 m (frequently deployed for commercial mapping or military reconnaissance)

• Large UAVs: more than 10 m (typically used for long-range surveillance, cargo, or military missions)

3、Weight

• Nano UAVs: less than 250 grams (often used as toys or for very short-range tasks)

• Micro air vehicles (MAV): 250 grams to less than 2 kg (suitable for indoor inspection, research, or close-range surveillance)

• Miniature UAVs or Small UAVs (SUAV): 2 kg to less than 25 kg (commonly used in agriculture, mapping, and photography)

• Medium UAVs: 25 kg to less than 150 kg (deployed for industrial, commercial, or military reconnaissance)

• Large UAVs: 150 kg or more (used for heavy payloads, long-range missions, or military applications)

4、Degree of autonomy

• Remotely Piloted UAVs: Operated entirely by a human pilot via remote control (commonly used for hobby drones and some commercial operations)

• Semi-autonomous UAVs: Can perform certain tasks automatically, such as altitude hold or return-to-home, but still require human oversight (frequently used in commercial and consumer drones)

• Fully Autonomous UAVs: Capable of completing entire missions without human intervention, including takeoff, navigation, data collection, and landing (used for advanced surveying, mapping, and some military or industrial applications)

5、Altitude

• Hand-held: up to 2,000 ft (600 m) altitude, about 2 km range (used for close-range inspections and small-scale mapping)

• Close: up to 5,000 ft (1,500 m) altitude, up to 10 km range (suitable for local surveillance and short-range missions)

• NATO type: up to 10,000 ft (3,000 m) altitude, up to 50 km range (used for tactical reconnaissance)

• Tactical: up to 18,000 ft (5,500 m) altitude, about 160 km range (applied in military and large-area surveillance)

• MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance): up to 30,000 ft (9,000 m), range over 200 km (used for persistent surveillance and border patrol)

• HALE (High Altitude, Long Endurance): over 30,000 ft (9,100 m), indefinite range (deployed for strategic reconnaissance and atmospheric research)

6、Composite criteria

• The U.S. Department of Defense classifies UAVs into groups based on a combination of maximum weight, operating altitude, and speed:

  • Group 1: Smallest UAVs, less than 20 lbs (9.1 kg), under 1,200 ft (370 m), under 100 knots (190 km/h)

  • Group 2: 21–55 lbs (9.1–25 kg), under 3,500 ft (1,100 m), under 250 knots (460 km/h)

  • Group 3: 56–1,320 lbs (25–600 kg), under 18,000 ft (5,500 m), under 250 knots (460 km/h)

  • Group 4: Over 1,320 lbs (600 kg), under 18,000 ft (5,500 m), any speed

  • Group 5: Over 1,320 lbs (600 kg), above 18,000 ft (5,500 m), any speed