Why can uncrewed aerial vehicles remain over an area longer than many crewed aircraft?

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Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) can remain over an area for significantly longer periods than many crewed aircraft primarily because they are unencumbered by the requirements of human flight.1

Because these systems do not carry a crew, they eliminate the need for heavy life-support systems, such as pressurized cabins, oxygen supplies, and environmental controls. Furthermore, UAVs are not restricted by the design-safety requirements and ergonomic considerations necessary to protect human pilots during long-duration missions. By removing these constraints, UAVs achieve greater efficiency, allowing for substantially increased range and endurance compared to equivalent crewed systems.1