DHS/USCG/PIA-026 USCG Research and Development Center (RDC) Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) United States Coast Guard (USCG) Research and Development Center (RDC) has been tasked and funded to evaluate small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) for potential use by USCG for operational missions. sUAS include small aircrafts (typically less than 55 pounds in weight) that are generally operated using a wireless ground control station (GCS). The aircrafts are equipped with sensors and cameras that can capture images and transmit them to standalone GCSs to provide aerial views of USCG missions for situational awareness to the operators and users. USCG is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to address the privacy impacts of sUAS surveillance and image capturing capabilities. February 2018