| On Assigning Long-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems to Theater Combatant Commands |
Feb 2010 |
30 pages |
| Authors:
Roger C Burk; MILITARY ACADEMY WEST POINT NY OPERATIONS RESEARCH CENTER
|
 | We describe, formulate, and propose a heuristic algorithm for Strategic Command's problem of assigning long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems to theater combatant commands (COCOMs). We identify the problem's important characteristics, which include the relative priorities of the different COCOMs, the relative priorities of the different requirements in each COCOM, the different amounts of aircraft time required to work on the different requirements, and the probabilistic results of pursuing a given task. ... |
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| Advanced Development for Defense Science and Technology |
20 Jan 2010 |
17 pages |
| Authors:
Jacob Krispin; VORCAT INC NORTH POTOMAC MD
|
| This project explores means of enhancing the efficiency of bio/chem/nuclear hazard detection in the atmosphere by unmanned air vehicles (UAV). Specifically, the study seeks to discover if and where the placement of sensors on UAV's can maximize the volume of space that is brought into contact with the sensor. A hybrid gridfree/finite volume numerical flow simulation methodology that is adept at modeling complex flow scenarios provides the basis for the ... |
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| Lighter-Than-Air and Pressurized Structures Technology for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) |
Jan 2010 |
30 pages |
| Authors:
Harris Edge; Jason Collins; Ainsmar Brown; Michael Coatney; Beatrice Roget; Nathan Slegers; Arthur Johnson; ARMY RESEARCH LAB ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD
|
| Several areas of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) performance need to be improved for the next generation of UAVs to be used successfully in expanded future combat roles. This report describes the initial research to improve the performance of UAVs through lighter-than-air or pressurized structures-based (PSB) technologies. Basically, we examined how to construct the UAV in such a way that a considerable percentage of its weight will be supported by or ... |
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| Strategic Studies Quarterly. Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2010 |
Jan 2010 |
154 pages |
| Authors:
Phillip M McCauley; Rodger A Payne; Xiaoming Zhang; Sean D McClung; Kamal Jabbour; Forsyth; James W Jr; Chance Saltzman; Schaub; Gary Jr; Alexis Littlefield; Shawn T Cochran; AIR UNIV MAXWELL AFB AL STRATEGIC STUDIES QUARTERLY
|
| COMMENTARY: Like most members of Congress, I am a frequent user of the national airspace system, traveling between Washington and my congressional district in Alabama on a near weekly basis. This lifestyle requires trips to multiple airports in some of the busiest, most-restricted airspace in the country. Additionally, the US Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker and the Air Force's Lemay Center for Doctrine Development and ... |
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| Robustness of Control Laws Implemented in Visual Based Target Tracking System |
Dec 2009 |
80 pages |
| Authors:
Lee H Chuan; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
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| The previously developed guidance law implemented onboard the Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) relies exclusively on the information from the image processing software and allows to perform coordinated SUAV guidance and vision based target tracking and motion estimation. This enables passive only coordinated tracking of non-cooperative targets. An analysis of the system performance shows that the developed target tracking law demonstrates poor range holding capability when the target performs evasive ... |
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| F-22 versus UCAV: Fixing Today's Deficiencies Leaves Questions about Tomorrow's Dominance |
Dec 2009 |
92 pages |
| Authors:
Brian O Beales; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS
|
| This thesis evaluates the U.S. Government's decision to end F-22 production and shift procurement toward first-generation Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV). Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. military has been in a constant asymmetric battle with violent extremists. UCAVs, like the MQ-1 and MQ-9, have provided a persistent air power presence and have grown in popularity because of their low cost and versatility. At the same time, the F-22 has ... |
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| Army Aviation Addressing Battlefield Anomalies in Real Time with the Teaming and Collaboration of Manned and Unmanned Aircraft |
Dec 2009 |
83 pages |
| Authors:
Timothy M McGrew; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
|
| This thesis focuses on determining the effectiveness of a new and innovative concept or Tactic, Technique and Procedure (TTP) for army aviation by teaming Manned and Unmanned (M/UM) aircraft in the conduct of Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) operations in the Contemporary Operating Environment (COE). M/UM aircraft teaming is described, as well as the evolution of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and the technology applications they bring to bear. ... |
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| Aerodynamic Investigation of Smart Flying Wing MAV |
19-Nov-2009 |
22 pages |
| Authors:
Arnab Roy; INDIAN INST OF TECH KHARAGPUR
|
| Numerical simulations are performed to assess the feasibility of using embedded piezo sensors-actuators within thin wings to make them adaptive and therefore more aerodynamically efficient. If the method is found attractive and validated, could lead to design of practical smart MAV wings, but it also has more general application. |
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| Software Systems Stockroom |
Nov-2009 |
107 pages |
| Authors:
Gabor Karsai; James L Panmicka; Douglas A Stuart; Andrew M Vandivort; Christopher P VanBuskirk; BOEING CO ST LOUIS MO
|
| This final report contains a record of activities and a description of project deliverables and results from the Software Systems Stockroom (S3) Phase 1 program, which was executed by Boeing Research & Technology (BR&T) form 05-February-2009 to 02- August-2009. BR&T subcontractors on the effort included Raytheon and Vanderbilt University. The work included development of an open, community-driven, technically focused shared infrastructure that will encourage the capture and reuse of domain ... |
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| Adaptive Control, Wide Speed Range Flight, and Deconfliction |
Nov 2009 |
36 pages |
| Authors:
Catherine Ronfle-Nadaud; ECOLE NATIONALE DE L' AVIATION CIVILE TOULOUSE (FRANCE)
|
| First part is dedicated to the Adaptive Control. In the previous document, state of the art was reported and theoretical basis were assumed. Here, the simulation results and the real flight tests are detailed. Wind tunnel experiments have been carried out in order to provide accurate models and validate the theoretical process. Second part concerns the Deconfliction. Two approaches are developed: Reactive Avoidance and Centralized Deconfliction. Both are illustrated and ... |
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| Steady and Unsteady Aerodynamic Flow Studies Over a UCAV 1303 Configuration |
Sep-2009 |
77 pages |
| Authors:
Brian K McLain; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
|
| This study generated new information through qualitative documentation of the main flow features and direct measurements of the aerodynamic performance of a tailless, unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) 1303 configuration under both steady and unsteady maneuvering conditions. Photographic evidence of flow features, measurements of large-scale flow effects, and that of forces and aerodynamic coefficients during static and dynamic pitch, roll and yaw maneuvers were obtained. Flow visualization images and force ... |
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| Counter Piracy: A Repeated Game with Asymmetric Information |
Sep-2009 |
57 pages |
| Authors:
Christopher D Marsh; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
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| This thesis presents a model of a counter-piracy operation, where a task force has one operational asset (a destroyer) and one reconnaissance asset (an unmanned aerial vehicle) to reduce piracy in a large region. The region is divided into small areas, and each day the pirates operate in one area to hijack commercial vessels to collect ransoms. The information is asymmetric to the two players. The pirates know which area ... |
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| Application of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide Photovoltaic Cells to Extend the Endurance and Capabilities of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles |
Sep-2009 |
150 pages |
| Authors:
William R Hurd; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
|
| In this thesis, we investigate the advantages of modifying current military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with available thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cells to increase their endurance, and/or capabilities. The approach taken was to explore available off-the-shelf flexible solar technology and to integrate it in a proof-of-concept model for testing and analysis. A physically similar commercially available battery powered plane was used to demonstrate the materials and methods by which the RQ-11B ... |
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| General Use of UAS in EW Environment-EW Concepts and Tactics for Single or Multiple UAS Over the Net-Centric Battlefield |
Sep-2009 |
245 pages |
| Authors:
Mustafa G Erdemli; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
|
| With the development of technology, Electronic Warfare has been increasing for decades its importance in modern battles. It can even be referred to as the heart of today's net-centric battlefield. Unmanned Aerial Systems are gaining more importance every single day. Nations are working on more complex and more effective UAS in order to accomplish missions that are very difficult, or even impossible for manned aircraft. Electronic Warfare missions are often ... |
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| Project META (Microwave Energy Transmission for Aircraft) |
Sep 2009 |
27 pages |
| Authors:
Ephrahim Garcia; SIBLEY SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING ITHACA NY
|
| The viability of using microwave energy transmission technology to power air vehicles remotely was investigated. On-board antennas (rectennas) harvest the remotely beamed energy and transform it to a useful form of mechanical energy in order to keep the vehicle aloft for extended periods of time. While the idea of remote power transmission has been studied over the past few decades, the challenge with powering air vehicles lies in their unique ... |
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| Air Force Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Flight Plan 2009-2047 |
23-Jul-2009 |
23 pages |
| Authors:
Dave Deptula; Eric Mathewson; AIR FORCE WASHINGTON DC DIRECTOR INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE
|
| A briefing on the Air Force's action plan to guide the development of Unmanned Aerial Systems. |
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| Nonlinear Geometric and Differential Geometric Guidance of UAVs for Reactive Collision Avoidance |
07-Jul-2009 |
69 pages |
| Authors:
Anusha Mujumdar; Radhakant Padhi; INDIAN INST OF SCIENCE BANGALORE (INDIA)
|
| Local collision avoidance for safe autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in an urban environment has been investigated. A nonlinear differential geometric guidance law based on 'collision cone approach' and 'dynamic inversion' was developed and successfully simulated. Both linear 'aiming point guidance' (APG) and nonlinear APG algorithms have been developed and validated from 3-D simulation studies. Finally a first-order autopilot was incorporated to provide satisfactory guidance with up to 0.2 second delay. ... |
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| Defense Acquisitions. Opportunities Exist to Achieve Greater Commonality and Efficiencies among Unmanned Aircraft Systems |
Jul-2009 |
79 pages |
| Authors:
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
|
| From 2008 through 2013, the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to invest over $16 billion to develop and procure additional unmanned aircraft systems. To more effectively leverage its acquisition resources, DOD recognizes that it must achieve greater commonality among the military services' unmanned aircraft programs. Doing so, however, requires certain trade-offs and complex budget, cost, and schedule interactions. GAO was asked to assess the progress of selected unmanned aircraft acquisition ... |
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| Medium and High Altitude Unmanned Aircraft System Acquisition: An Efficiency Study of Magnitude and Capability |
12-Jun-2009 |
91 pages |
| Authors:
Hassell; Billy E Jr; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
|
| The procurement of medium and high altitude UAS has dramatically increased since 1988. The DOD now spends billions of dollars annually to research, test, develop and procure medium and high altitude UAS for all military services. In an effort to rapidly field these very capable systems to contribute to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), there appeared to be two key areas of concern. The magnitude of ... |
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| TNT Testbed for Self-Organizing Tactical Networking and Collaboration |
Jun-2009 |
64 pages |
| Authors:
Alex Bordetsky; David Netzer; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
|
| Beginning in 2002, a team of Naval Postgraduate School researchers together with sponsors from USSOCOM, and later joined by the OSD and DHS S&T Programs, started a new campaign of discovery and constraints analysis experiments (Alberts and Hayes, 2007), which is now collectively known as Tactical Network Topology (TNT) Experiments. This campaign of experimentation, carried out under the USSOCOMNPS Field Experimentation Cooperative program and OSD/ HLS S&T support unfolds in ... |
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| Flow Visualization Studies over a UCAV 1303 Model |
Jun-2009 |
58 pages |
| Authors:
Weng H Chua; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
|
| This study is a qualitative documentation of the main flow features over an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) 1303 model by flow visualization techniques where it gives the first understanding of the UCAV maneuverability under steady and unsteady maneuver conditions. The relevant fluid flow physics is not available presently and, hence, this thesis concentrated on generating those critical details. Towards this goal, model studies were conducted on the United States ... |
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| Voice-on-Target: A New Approach to Tactical Networking and Unmanned Systems Control via the Voice Interface to the SA Environment |
Jun-2009 |
34 pages |
| Authors:
Eugene Bourakov; Alex Bordetsky; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF INFORMATION SCIENCES
|
| Since 2004 the authors have been actively involved in the innovative Tactical Network Topology (TNT) experimentation program, which the Naval Postgraduate conducts quarterly with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to explore emerging agile adaptive tactical networks. One of our first findings was a set of solutions enabling rapid adaptation of broadband wireless networks to the commander's needs, which we have named Network-on-Target (Bordetsky and Bourakov, 2006). According to ... |
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| Zephyr HALE UAS (High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial System) |
Jun-2009 |
14 pages |
| Authors:
Paul Davey; QINETIQ LTD FARNBOROUGH (UNITED KINGDOM)
|
| Zephyr Programme Objective - Design a HALE UAS to fly for months at a time: Solar powered to provide 3+ months flight endurance; Solar charged batteries provide power throughout the night; Operating altitude 50,000-70,000 ft (global minimum wind speed altitude) |
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| DARPA: Bridging the Gap, Powered by Ideas |
Jun-2009 |
38 pages |
| Authors:
Thomas Moore; DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY ARLINGTON VA
|
| The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) -- which came to be known as DARPA in 1972 when its name changed to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- emerged in 1958 as part of a broad reaction to a singular event: the launching by the Soviet Union of the Sputnik satellite on Oct. 4, 1957. DARPA's Mission is to prevent technological surprise for the United States and to create technological ... |
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| Orion Unmanned Aircraft System JCTD |
Jun-2009 |
|
| Authors:
DIRECTOR DEFENSE RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING WASHINGTON DC RAPID FIELDING DIRECTORATE
|
 | GAME-CHANGING CAPABILITY: How will Orion change the game? 5-days with 1,000 lb at 15,000 ft * NFOV FMV EO/IR sensor * Comms relay (including laser comms) * Benefits of the Orion UAS: Payload flexibility with open architecture interfaces * Highly autonomous operations * Standards compliant GCS * Reduced O&M manpower when compared to currently fielded systems * Twin certified heavy fuel engines * Redundant avionics systems * Affordable * Autonomous ... |
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| Extending Cooperative SLAM into Multi-Objective Missions |
05-May-2009 |
22 pages |
| Authors:
Salah Sukkarieh; Mitch Bryson; SYDNEY UNIV (AUSTRALIA)
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| This report discusses theoretical and practical outcomes of the second half of a project that extended the work of cooperative SLAM into missions involving multiple objects, such as directing a group of aerial vehicles to a specific destination in minimum time. |
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| UAVs for the Operational Commander: Don't Ground MAV (Manned Aerial Vehicles)! |
04-May-2009 |
24 pages |
| Authors:
Joshua Sager; NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS DEPT
|
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology has progressed considerably over the past twenty years. UAVs originally served only in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles, but now routinely conduct strikes in support of commanders' objectives. As UAVs are further integrated into the nation's Joint Air capabilities, many proponents assert that they will soon replace the full spectrum of manned platforms. This would include service in roles such as Air-to-Air superiority, Air-to-Ground ... |
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| A Fuel Consumption Algorithm for Unmanned Aircraft Systems |
May-2009 |
39 pages |
| Authors:
Terry Jameson; ARMY RESEARCH LAB WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE NM COMPUTATIONAL AND INFORMATION SCIENCE DIRECTORATE
|
| The Army Research Laboratory, Battlefield Environment Division has been developing an Aviation Weather Routing Tool (AWRT) to address the issue of weather impacts upon various Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) missions. The AWRT depicts regions of adverse weather impacts and then searches for alternate routes that minimize those impacts. A related factor that has yet to be included in AWRT involves UAS fuel consumption. Fuel consumption rates, remaining fuel quantity, and ... |
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| Joint Collaborative Technology Experiment |
17-Apr-2009 |
15 pages |
| Authors:
Brian Skibba; Gary N Dion; Randy J Shirts; Danies Class; Rodney Brown; John Messamore; See Yee; Donny Ciccimaro; Michael Wills; Jeff Wit; Thomas Denewiler; Nicholas Stroumtsos; Gary S Anselmo; SPACE AND NAVAL WARFARE SYSTEMS CENTER SAN DIEGO CA
|
| Use of unmanned systems is rapidly growing within the military and civilian sectors in a variety of roles including reconnaissance, surveillance, explosive ordinance disposal (EOD), and force-protection and perimeter security. As utilization of these systems grows at an ever increasing rate, the need for unmanned systems teaming and inter-system collaboration becomes apparent. Collaboration provides a means of enhancing individual system capabilities through relevant data exchange that contributes to cooperative behaviors ... |
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| Land, Sea, and Air Unmanned Systems Research and Development at SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific |
Apr-2009 |
15 pages |
| Authors:
Barbara Fletcher; Greg Kogut; Hoa G Nguyen; H R Everett; Rich Arrieta; Robin Laird; John Andrews; Todd Webber; SPACE AND NAVAL WARFARE SYSTEMS CENTER SAN DIEGO CA
|
| The Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) has a long and extensive history in unmanned systems research and development, starting with undersea applications in the 1960s and expanding into ground and air systems in the 1980s. In the ground domain, we are addressing force-protection scenarios using large unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and fixed sensors, and simultaneously pursuing tactical and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operations with small ... |
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| Super Maneuverable, Flapping Wing Micro-Air-Vehicles |
16-Mar-2009 |
28 pages |
| Authors:
B Balachandran; E Balaras; Marcos Vanella; Timothy Fitzgerald; Sergio Preidikman; MARYLAND UNIV COLLEGE PARK DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
|
| Interest in the development of super-maneuverable, micro-air-vehicles has led to the re-examination of basic flight modes, particularly, those that are inspired by biological observations. The majority of experimental and numerical studies related to flapping flight have explored the relationships between the thrust coefficient (and propulsive efficiency) and wing geometry and kinematics. Relatively speaking, the wing flexibility and the interplay between kinematics and flexibility have received less attention, and currently, it ... |
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| Cooperative Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Control System Architecture |
Mar-2009 |
218 pages |
| Authors:
Theodore T Diamond; Adam L Rutherford; Jonathan B Taylor; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) is a high-demand Department of Defense mission performed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at the tactical and theater levels. Coordinating UAS aircraft through cooperative control offers the advantages of persistence, distributed and adaptable sensor coverage, and reduced revisit time on points of interest. The purpose of this thesis is to apply systems engineering principals to the problem of developing a flexible, common control system for ... |
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| Boundary Avoidance Tracking: Consequences (and Uses) of Imposed Boundaries on Pilot-Aircraft Performance |
Mar-2009 |
115 pages |
| Authors:
Ryan D Blake; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| This thesis presents the results of research into the Boundary Avoidance Tracking (BAT) theory, which states that often pilots control an aircraft not in an attempt to maintain some condition, but to avoid some real or perceived boundaries. This pilot modeling concept was studied using over 30 pilots in simulator and flight tests. The pilot-aircraft system was evaluated with 3 different lateral-directional control models. Pilots were given a roll angle ... |
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| Architecting Human Operator Trust in Automation to Improve System Effectiveness in Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Control |
Mar-2009 |
113 pages |
| Authors:
Eric A Cring; Adam G Lenfestey; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| Current Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designs require multiple operators for each vehicle, partly due to imperfect automation matched with the complex operational environment. This study examines the effectiveness of future UAS automation by explicitly addressing the human/machine trust relationship during system architecting. A pedigreed engineering model of trust between human and machine was developed and applied to a laboratory-developed micro-UAS for Special Operations. This unprecedented investigation answered three primary questions: ... |
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| Surveillance Using Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles |
Mar-2009 |
173 pages |
| Authors:
Christopher E Booth; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| This study examines the performance and limitations of a heuristic cooperative control (CC) surveillance algorithm for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under both simulation and demonstration. The algorithm generates Dubin's based paths and provides velocity feedback to accomplish simultaneous arrival onto a surveillance orbit around the target and maintains position while orbiting. The CC algorithm has two modes: one that generates commands to multiple UAVs for simultaneous arrival to a ... |
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| Tools for the Conceptual Design and Engineering Analysis of Micro Air Vehicles |
Mar-2009 |
156 pages |
| Authors:
Mustafa Turan; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| Micro Air Vehicles (MAV) are a subset of Unmanned Aircraft (UAS) that are up to two orders of magnitude smaller than manned systems. Near-Earth environments, such as forests, caves, tunnels and urban structures make reconnaissance, surveillance and search-and-rescue missions difficult and dangerous to accomplish. Therefore, MAVs are considered ideal for these types of missions. However, the data using full size aircraft is inadequate to characterize miniature aircraft parameters due to ... |
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| UAS Collision Avoidance Algorithm that Minimizes the Impact on Route Surveillance |
Mar-2009 |
213 pages |
| Authors:
Austin L Smith; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| A collision avoidance algorithm is developed and implemented that is applicable to different types of unmanned aerial systems ranging from a single platform with the ability to perform all collision avoidance functions independently to multiple vehicles performing functions as a cooperative group with collision avoidance commands computed at a ground station. The collision avoidance system is exercised and tested using operational hardware and platforms and is demonstrated in representative missions ... |
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| Model-Based Control using Model and Mechanization Fusion Techniques for Image-Aided Navigation |
Mar-2009 |
141 pages |
| Authors:
Constance D Hendrix; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| Unmanned aerial vehicles are no longer used for just reconnaissance. Current requirements call for smaller autonomous vehicles that replace the human in high-risk activities. Many times these activities are performed in GPS-degraded environments. Without GPS providing today's most accurate navigation solution, autonomous navigation in tight areas is more difficult. Today, image-aided navigation is used and other methods are explored to more accurately navigate in such areas (e.g., indoors). This thesis ... |
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| Developing a Framework for Control of Agile Aircraft Platforms in Autonomous Hover |
Mar-2009 |
75 pages |
| Authors:
Kyle J Krogh; WASHINGTON UNIV SEATTLE DEPT OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
|
| This thesis extends previous work on autonomous agile aircraft to develop a framework for control in both linear and non-linear flight profiles. Two dynamical systems are considered, a scale YAK-54 aerobatic remote control aircraft and the Flexrotor concept developed by Aerovel. Both models are capable of hover and level flight, requiring complex control transitions between the flight regimes. Linear controllers are developed for both models in a hover configuration. Open-loop ... |
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| Bio-Mimetic Millimeter-Scale Flapping Wings for Micro Air Vehicles |
Mar-2009 |
22 pages |
| Authors:
Eric Wetzel; Ronald G Polcawich; Christopher Kroninger; Jeffrey Pulskamp; Jessica Bronson; ARMY RESEARCH LAB ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD
|
| In this report, we present designs of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) fabricated millimeter-scale flapping wings with some characterization of their structural properties and flapping performance. Wings of varied bio-mimetic design, including membrane and ribs-like structures, are flapped at resonance from lead zirconate titanate (PZT) bending actuators at their base. Laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) measurements and finite element (FE) analysis predictions of the flapping frequencies and mode shapes and the flapping amplitude ... |
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| Deeply-Integrated Feature Tracking for Embedded Navigation |
Mar-2009 |
92 pages |
| Authors:
Jeffery R Gray; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
|
| The Air Force Institute of Technology is investigating techniques to improve aircraft navigation using low-cost imaging and inertial sensors. Stationary features tracked within the image are used to improve the inertial navigation estimate. Features are tracked using a correspondence search between frames. Previous research investigated aiding these correspondence searches using inertial measurements. While this research demonstrated the benefits of further sensor integration, it still relied on robust feature descriptors to ... |
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| Target Acquisition Involving Multiple Unmanned Air Vehicles: Interfaces for Small Unmanned Air Systems (ISUS) Program |
Mar-2009 |
83 pages |
| Authors:
Lamar Warfield; Thomas R Carretta; Airam Gonzalez-Garcia; Michael J Patzek; Sarah E Spriggs; Allen J Rowe; Kristen K Liggett; HUMAN EFFECTIVENESS DIRECTORATE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH 711 HUMAN PERFORMANCE WING
|
| The use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and micro air vehicles (MAVs) in military reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) missions is becoming increasingly widespread. The Supervisory Control Interfaces Branch of the Air Force Research Laboratory is exploring interface design techniques to support multiple-UAV, single-operator employment concepts. These employment concepts require that a single operator monitor manage multiple vehicles and or sensors which may increase visual/cognitive workload and degrade ... |
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| Micro-Scale Flapping Wings for the Advancement of Flying MEMS |
Mar-2009 |
139 pages |
| Authors:
Nicholas R Coleman; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| This research presents conceptual micro air vehicles (MAV) with total dimensions less than one millimeter. The effort sought to advance understanding of MAV at sub-millimeter dimensions by fabricating and testing micro scale flapping wings. The biomimetic wings derived from three different insects; the dragonfly, house fly, and butterfly, were selected based off of their natural attributes. The fabricated wings utilize a thermal bimorph structure consisting of polysilicon and gold which ... |
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| Centralized Cooperative Control for Route Surveillance With Constant Communication |
Mar-2009 |
126 pages |
| Authors:
Joseph D Rosal; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| The route surveillance (RS) mission is a new application of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) to meet the reconnaissance and surveillance needs of combatant commanders. This mission intends to field a four-vehicle UAS that can provide surveillance of convoy routes. This research focuses on developing a solution strategy based on the application of optimal control and cooperative control theory. The RS controller uses the UAS team size to divide the route ... |
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| A Gimbaled Platform for Micro Aerial Vehicle Autopilot Simulation and Calibration |
Mar-2009 |
24 pages |
| Authors:
Justin L Shumaker; Kamal S Ali; Lamarious Carter; ARMY RESEARCH LAB ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE
|
| This report describes a 3-degrees-of-freedom gimbaled platform designed to be used as a hardware in the loop simulator. This platform is designed to aid in the calibration and synchronization of micro aerial vehicles' autopilot components. This platform can also be used as a simulator allowing the autopilot to fly a computer model of the airframe. This allows for the quick and efficient verification of autopilot behavior with different airframes under ... |
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| Using Agent-Based Modeling to Evaluate UAS Behaviors in a Target-Rich Environment |
Mar-2009 |
93 pages |
| Authors:
van; Joseph A Kuiken; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
|
| The trade-off between accuracy and speed is a re-occurring dilemma in many facets of military performance evaluation. This is an especially important issue in the world of ISR. One of the most progressive areas of ISR capabilities has been the utilization of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Many people believe that the future of UAS lies in smaller vehicles flying in swarms. We use the agent-based System Effectiveness and Analysis Simulation ... |
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| Vision-Aided, Cooperative Navigation for Multiple Unmanned Vehicles |
Mar-2009 |
210 pages |
| Authors:
Jason K Bingham; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
|
| The motivation of this research is to exploit three attributes of increased unmanned vehicle use for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. These attributes are increased numbers of unmanned vehicles, on-board vision, and wireless communications. The research begins with the development of a cooperative navigation system based on the measurement of vehicle position relative to shared landmark position estimates. Each vehicle in the network locates landmarks using it's on-board vision system ... |
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| Hybrid Control Systems: Design and Analysis for Aerospace Applications |
28-Feb-2009 |
17 pages |
| Authors:
Andrew R Teel; CALIFORNIA UNIV SANTA BARBARA DEPT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING
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| The objective of this research was to contribute to the fundamental understanding of hybrid control systems and to explore the use of hybrid feedback in problems of interest to the Air Force. We aimed to provide a solid, foundational understanding of hybrid systems that will enable the vast potential of hybrid control to be realized. On the analysis side, we investigated the implications of different hybrid semantics, the simulation of ... |
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| UAV Communication Management and Coordination for Multitarget Tracking |
26-Feb-2009 |
35 pages |
| Authors:
Scott A Miller; Zachary A Harris; Edwin K Chong; NUMERICA CORPORATION LOVELAND CO
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| The research conducted under this grant concerned the application of the theory of partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) to the design of guidance algorithms for controlling the motion of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with on-board sensors to improve tracking of multiple ground targets. While POMDP problems are intractable to solve exactly, principled approximation methods can be devised based on the theory that characterizes optimal solutions. A new approximation method ... |
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| Enabling Technologies for Nano Air Vehicles |
10-Feb-2009 |
86 pages |
| Authors:
Jamey D Jacob; OKLAHOMA STATE UNIV STILLWATER
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| This project investigated several areas with the aim of improving performance and operational use of nano air vehicles (NAVs) by understanding fundamental operating principles and developing key technologies. The project developed plasma actuators for thrust and maneuvering control and examined flapping flight through the development of a high speed videogrammetry system and a gust/shear tunnel to replicate flow fields seen as the NAY scale. In the first portion of the ... |
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Pilotless Aircraft
