ORIGINAL: shannah
I should add in the definition for sUAS the capability of autonomous flight.
In reading the ARC memo the FAA classifies models as sUAS. The difference is they want to make us essentially an regulated sUAS. Autonomous flight does not look to be part of the sUAS concept. sUAS, us and the regulated ones, will be VLOS only. They will require a spotter pilot for FPV operations.
This is from the July 2010 Fact Sheet:
Introduction
Unmanned Aircraft Systems previously referred to as “unmanned aerial vehicles,” “UAVs,”“remotely operated aircraft/ vehicles,” or just “unmanned aircraft come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and serve diverse purposes. They may have a wingspan as large as a Boeing 737 or smaller than a radio-controlled model airplane. UAS operations always have a pilot in command who is flying the aircraft.