ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A DRIVER OF THE EVOLUTION OF UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE LOW-ALTITUDE ECONOMY

Abstract

This article examines the contribution of artificial intelligence to the evolution of unmanned aerial systems and the emergence of the low-altitude economy. Research on autonomous navigation and control is considered in conjunction with the economics of service delivery and digital coordination. Four economic mechanisms are identified: changes in labour requirements, reductions in repeat work, expansion of the service mix, and improved resource utilisation. An analytical expression for the cost per accepted result shows how utilisation and service quality shape the returns to AI adoption. The US UTM concept and the European U-space framework are compared in terms of coordination functions and information requirements. The analysis distinguishes intelligence at the aircraft level from ecosystem-level decision support. The implications point to the need for complementary investment in data, skills, infrastructure, and service organisation in Uzbekistan. No quantitative estimate of the effect on the national market is provided.