International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment The NASA IKHANA UAS Platform Introduction to UAV Content provided by: V. Ambrosia, G. Buoni, B. Cobleigh, K. Howell, M. Rivas

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Ikhana History In the Native American Choctaw language, the word Ikhana means intelligent, conscious, or aware. This made it the perfect word to represent the aircraft NASA has selected to demonstrate technologies seeking to make unpiloted aircraft more intelligent and autonomous. In FY05, NASA initiated the procurement of a Predator-B aircraft (fig. 1 and 2) with a plan to host the flight demonstration of these advanced autonomy technologies, namely: Intelligent Mission Management (IMM) and Integrated Vehicle System Management (IVSM). The demonstrated reliability of the Predator-B allowed experimenters to focus on research instead of the platform and permit FAA- approved operations in the National Airspace (NAS). NASA’s Predator-B is a rapidly reconfigurable test system that develops and demonstrates advanced HALE technologies leading to ROA applications that improve life here. Vision:

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Ikhana in Construction in 2006

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Ikhana Specifications Platform Specifications: Wing Span66 ft Load (fuel+payload+ballast) 6400 lbs Ballast/Payload OffsetUp to 800 lbs Operational AltitudesUp to 45,000 ft Max EnduranceUp to 30 hours Internal Payload BayYes External Pod MountsYes Electrical Power4.9 SL; Alt Delivered: Early FY Experience on Predator UAS: NASA - none as of 2006 DOD - substantial

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Ikhana History CY 2005 CY 2006 CY 2007 Aircraft ordered 4/05 Fire Payload Integrated 6/07 Delivered 11/06 GCS Delivered 12/06 Crew Training Western States Fire Mission Ground Station Modifications COA Issued

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Ikhana Modifications Payload Areas 8 L1/L2 GPS antenna connections Infrared Wildfire Scanner Back-up battery power increased to 3 hours Wiring connections from pod to power distribution, GPS antenna, and SatCom system

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Ground Systems Mobile Ground Control Station Dual pilot control station Electronic navigation charts Weather 6 Engineering/Science workstations Range safety workstation Intercom system throughout Overhead mission displays Telephones Remote video from aircraft start- up/shut-down site Downlink video and data recording C-Band LOS Com-Link Link to ~300 miles Mobile 2.4m Ku SatCom Antenna Dual redundant receiver/transmitters Worldwide

Ikhana Communcations

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Ikhana Ground Control Station

Pilot Situational Awareness

Ikhana Performance Chart

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Operations Concept Chase aircraft required below 18k in the U.S. National Airspace (NAS) Air traffic control (ATC) used for collision avoidance above 18,000 ft NASA Dryden uses restricted airspace to climb to cruise altitude before exiting into the NAS Since Ikhana not qualified for Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM), operations are limited to 18,000 ft to 29,000 ft or above 41,000 ft Transponder and radio communication required Restricted airspace Class A Restricted airspace RVSM FL430 18,000 FL290 FL410 Chase Aircraft required Mission phase FL230

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Ikhana Instrument Pods Western States Fire Mission Pod Specifications Mounts to MAU-12 adaptor Supportable on GA-ASI Altair & NASA IKHANA Currently supporting Wild Fire Sensor One unit in fabrication Capable of carrying up to 1000 lbs Dimensions ~ 10 ft x 2 ft Available late FY06

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Fiber Optic Wing Shape Sensors (FOWSS) Ikhana Fiber Optic Wing Shape Sensors (FOWSS) Project In June 2003, the Helios Prototype unpiloted aerial vehicle (UAV) experienced significant pitch instability during low-altitude flight that lead to a catastrophic structural failure and in- flight break-up. One of the most significant lessons learned from the mishap investigation was the requirement to provide real-time measurement of wing shape. It was decided that lightweight and low profile fiber optic wing shape sensors (FOWSS), in conjunction with computationally efficient algorithms, was a promising approach to providing very accurate wing measurement calculations for eventual input to the flight control system for aero elastic motion control. FO channel covered for So. CA firestorm missions (Oct. 2007)

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Pilot Camera and Sensor Pod Sensor Pod and Fairing Forward / Downward - Looking nose camera (VIS / IR)

International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment Nose Camera Video Landing Banking Taxiing