Control stations Design of UAV Systems Lesson objective - to discuss c 2003 LM Corporation Lesson objective - to discuss Control stations including … Functions Approaches Sizing Example problem Expectations - You will understand the fundamentals of UAV control stations and the overall size, weight and complexity of the associated systems 10-1

UAV systems cannot operate without control stations Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Importance UAV systems cannot operate without control stations - Even if they are autonomous A good understanding of control station design issues and requirements are among the most important issues addressed during UAV pre-concept design 10-2

Control Functions Design of UAV Systems Launch and Recovery Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Control Functions Mission Planning Mission and Payload Management Information Processing and Dissemination Launch and Recovery http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/pioneer.htm http://www.fas.org/irp/program/disseminate/uav_tcs.htm http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/afmss.htm 10-3

UAV Tactical Control System (TCS) Definitions Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation levels of control l UAV Tactical Control System (TCS) Definitions Level 1 - Receipt and transmission of secondary imagery or data. Level 2 - Receipt of imagery or data directly from the UAV. Level 3 - Control of the UAV payload. Level 4 - Control of the UAV, less takeoff and landing. Level 5 - Full function and control of the UAV to include takeoff and landing. Source -http://www.fas.org/irp/program/disseminate/uav_tcs.htm 10-4

Design of UAV Systems Levels of autonomy Direct control Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Levels of autonomy Direct control Flight path control http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/eagle-eye.htm Supervised control Fully autonomous http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/uav_gcs.htm UAV Annual Report FY 1997 DarkStar Control stick d/dt,dh/dt and dV/dt Attack return etc. …or Navigation Control 10-5

Span of control Design of UAV Systems Multi-System System Unique Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Span of control System Unique Multi-System http://www.fas.org/irp/program/disseminate/uav_tcs.htm http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/eagle-eye.htm 10-6

Design of UAV Systems Control Location Ground Rear Area Sea Forward Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Control Location http://www.fas.org/irp/program/disseminate/uav_tcs.htm Ground Rear Area Forward Area Sea Air http://www.army.mil/armyimages.htm http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/pioneer.htm Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company 10-7

Global Hawk example Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Global Hawk example 10-8

Global Hawk MCE Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Global Hawk MCE 10-9

Global Hawk LRE Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Global Hawk LRE 10-10

Pioneer GCS Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Pioneer GCS 10-11

Source http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/daro/predator/toc.html Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Predator GCS Trojan Spirit GDT 30 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft commercial van The GCS consists of (1) a pilot position and (2) a payload operator position (interchangeable), (3) a Data Exploitation, Mission Planning and Communications position where imagery is annotated and initially exploited, and a (4) SAR workstation Source http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/daro/predator/toc.html 10-12

Pointer GCS Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Pointer GCS 10-13

UCAV control (status) Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation UCAV control (status) 10-14

Another common GCS Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Another common GCS 10-15

And another Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation And another 10-16

Mission control issues Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Mission control issues Mission planning concept Site requirements Vehicle control concept Manpower requirements Payload control concept Overall size Product exploitation concept Estimated cost Weapon control concept (for UCAV) 10-17

Selection considerations Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Selection considerations Mission planning concept - For military users, manned and unmanned aircraft will almost certainly use common mission planning tools. Example - USAF Mission Support System (AFMSS) has individual data modules that tailor it for each aircraft in the fleet. Global Hawk and Predator missions are planned like any other aircraft - Civilian users will probably do the same - the selection of UAV mission planning tools may be driven by what exists Vehicle control concept will be driven by near vs. long term cost considerations and mission needs - Autonomy costs a lot to develop, direct control doesn’t - Autonomy will cut long term operations and support costs 10-18

Considerations - cont’d Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Considerations - cont’d Payload control concept will be driven by the ConOps - If the ConOps is to bring data back for analysis, automated payload control will be cost effective - If the ConOps requires real time data analysis and sensor retasking, direct control will probably be required - Automation can be used to reduce operator work load Payload product exploitation concept will also be driven by Conops - If data is to be sent elsewhere for analysis, no on-site processing will be required - Otherwise, significant on-site processing will be required - Efficient data processing tools will be required to keep the task work load down and the crew size small 10-19

Considerations - cont’d Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Considerations - cont’d The weapon control concept (for UCAV) will be driven by ConOps and weapon type - It is highly unlikely that machines will be allowed to attack without human authorization unless a target is preplanned and fixed (like a cruise missile) - Otherwise operator intervention and authorization to attack will be required - The amount of information required to support a decision to attack may be substantial - Fire and forget weapons can also be highly automated - On board guided weapons by definition require high levels of operator involvement 10-20

Considerations - cont’d Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Considerations - cont’d Site requirements - At a minimum, a control station will be required at the launch and recovery area - Depending on the ConOps, other control stations may be required - Mission control is often collocated with the user of the system or its product (Global Hawk example) - Sometimes, multiple users are involved 10-21

Considerations - cont’d Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Considerations - cont’d Manpower requirements - With enough automation, a single operator should be able to handle multiple UAVs and their payloads - To date, however, multiple operators are required for one UAV with the typical assignments being (1) Launch and recovery (2) Vehicle control (3) Payload control (4) Payload information processing - Predator example (for 4 air vehicle squadron) - 6 air vehicle operators - 9 payload operators - 9 data exploitation and mission planners - 3 SAR imagery analysts 10-22

Little public control station information is available Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Sizing Little public control station information is available What information does exist is mostly from marketing brochures - Lots of pictures, little substance Janes UAVs and Targets has some data that we can parameterize for sizing purposes The available data falls into two broad categories Short range, portable systems Van or trailer mounted long range control stations with environmental enclosures 10-23

Size and cost Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Size and cost Nominally each operator station in an enclosure requires about 350 - 400 cuft at about 12 lbs/ft^3 There is very little publicly available control station cost information; Global Hawk CGS @ $45M (including comms), Predator @ $6.8M (excluding comms) 10-24

Control stations Next subject Design of UAV Systems c 2003 LM Corporation Next subject Lesson objective - to discuss Control stations including … Functions Approaches Sizing Example problem 10-25

WAS range required (95km) not a challenge Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Example problem Five medium UAVs, four provide wide area search, a fifth provides positive target identification WAS range required (95km) not a challenge Only one UAV responds to target ID requests No need to switch roles, simplifies ConOps No need for frequent climbs and descents Communications distances reasonable (158nm & 212 nm) Speed requirement = 280 kts Air vehicle operating altitude differences reasonable We will study other options as trades Where should the control station(s) be located? How big are they? 100 nm 200 nm x 200 nm 158 nm 27.4 Kft 10 Kft 212 nm 10-26

Command and control approach Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Considerations Command and control approach How to control the UAVs, where to locate control stations and how many operators to employ Control options Direct control (remotely piloted) Inexpensive but high operations and support risk Navigation (waypoint and flight path) control Slightly more complicated but low risk operations Supervised control (high level mission management) Operational benefits but complicated development Autonomous Minimizes operators but very complicated to develop Control locations will be driven by our threshold requirement approach Minimum requirement is for one control station Located at the launch and recovery base Navigation control approach will minimize risk 10-27

Low work load activity – basically a monitoring task Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Number of operators Assume one air vehicle operator can control all wide area search operations Low work load activity – basically a monitoring task Another air vehicle operator handles ID operations Controls both air vehicle and payload Wide area search/moving target payload operations require one operator (at a minimum) Fourth operator processes data and disseminates intelligence to users Fifth operator for launch and recovery and backup Sixth operator to control air and ground computer and communications systems 100 nm 200 nm x 200 nm 158 nm 27.4 Kft 10 Kft 212 nm 10-28

Design of UAV Systems Updated requirements Control Station element Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Updated requirements Control Station element Waypoint/flight path control 6 control consoles [air vehicle/EO/IR (2), SAR (1), C3I (1), product process/dissemination(1), launch and recovery(1)] C3I = C2I + Communications 10-29

(1) Determine control station locations Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Homework Assess control station requirements for your project and develop a approach that you think will work (1) Determine control station locations (2) Estimate number of operators and seats (3) Estimate weight(s) and volume(s) (4) Document your derived requirements Submit your homework via Email to Egbert by COB next Thursday. Document all calculations. 10-30

Intermission Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation Intermission 10-31