1. ESA (D-TIA) activities on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) R
ESA (D-TIA) activities on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) R. Rinaldo and L. Duquerroy Integrated and Telecommunications-related Applications Department (TIA-A) Royal Military Academy, Brussels 9th February, 2012

2. The Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Programme Elements
A balanced combination of generic and specific
Mission/ System/Application/Service orientated Programme Elements:
ARTES 1: Preparatory
ARTES 3-4: Telecom Applications & Products HYLAS/Avanti
ARTES 5: Technology
ARTES 7: European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS/Astrium Services)
ARTES 8: Alphasat (Inmarsat)
ARTES 11: Small GEO (Hispasat)
ARTES 10: IRIS
ARTES 20: Integrated Applications Promotion (IAP/Partners)
ARTES 21: SAT-AIS (EMSA / Industry)

3. ESA’s Integrated Applications Promotion Programme (ARTES 20 / IAP)
The goal :
Foster new utilization of existing space capacity and capability, in close partnership with end-users, through the development of integrated (different space and non space technologies) applications projects which demonstrate a potential for sustainable services.
Incubator of Services

4. UAS-enabled Applications

5. Maritime Surveillance and Border Control

6. Integrated Application EO, Nav, Satcom & UAS
Remaining uncorrelated ships & UAS for identification
SAR detected ships
SAR ships & AIS tracks
Correlation SAR & AIS

7. Space assets are fundamental for UAS operations
UAS integration in non-segregated airspace is a pre-requisite for extensive adoption of UAS applications

8. ESA and EDA common interests for UAS
ESA/IAP
EDA
Space component
Navigation
Communication
Earth Observation
Sustainable end-
user applications
using available
technology
UAS capability in Europe
UAS Air Traffic Insertion
(Air4All objectives)
UAS in non-segregated airspace
using Satellites
ESA – EDA partnership
Optimum gathering of expertise, capabilities and contacts for UAS

9. ESA-EDA collaboration: General goals
Demonstrate to end-users the potential of satellite-based UAS services in order to foster their adoption for commercial and government / institutional applications.
Demonstrate to stakeholders that UAS using satellites can be safely flown in non-segregated airspace, and provide inputs / support the regulatory initiatives
Demonstrate the benefits that satellites can offer in providing Safety Communications (C2, S&A, ATC) and Payload Communications
Promote the utilization of UAS-based solutions using satellites among the relevant end-users communities and stakeholders
Stimulate innovative space technologies and systems development for UAS for improving current performances and provide new services

10. ESA-EDA Joint Roadmap for UAS

11. Demo roadmap: 1st element objectives
The objectives of the 1st element are:
Demonstrate the capability of safe insertion of UAS in non-segregated airspace using satellites, identify issues and required procedures, and provide early inputs to regulatory bodies
Demonstrate to a test user community that UAS supported by satellites and flying in non-segregated airspace can fulfill their needs

12. Demo roadmap: 2nd element goals
Main goals to be achieved in a medium-time frame, through the 2nd element:
Addressing the needs of multiple user communities
Proving to end-users – for most relevant aspects – the requirements for the provision of operational services
Proving to stakeholders a comprehensive set of requirements for the safe air traffic insertion of UAS using satellites, based on regulations and solutions available at that time.
Demonstrate new services and improved performances, based on last technology developments.

13. 1st element ARTES 20 demonstration: Air Traffic Insertion (ATI) objectives
Some phases of the flight (take-off, landing, part of the mission) shall be performed in class A, B or C non-segregated airspace referenced in the Air4All study
Most of the mission area, as well as some parts of the en-route flight, shall be located BLOS with respect to the Operational Payload Analysis Centre (OPAC) and Ground Control Station (GCS)
During each flight, both LOS terrestrial communications and BLOS satellite communications links shall be established between the pilot-in-command and the Unmanned Aircraft (UA) for Control and Non Payload Communications (CNPC) (potentially including ATC relay), with appropriate handover between LOS and BLOS links, to support the safety of the flight
The UAS shall interface with the responsible ATC unit to operate in non-segregated airspace.

14. 1st element ARTES 20 demonstration: Mission and User operational scenario objectives
The UA shall be equipped with payload sensors (e.g. camera, radar) for the collection of the data. The payload features should satisfy user needs.
The data shall be transmitted in (near) real-time via satellite communication to the OPAC
The demonstration shall prove quantitatively and qualitatively the benefits of satellite–based UAS for the selected user application/service
The system architecture shall be integrated with the selected users’ operational system

15. 1st element ARTES 20 Demonstration implementation
ESA and EDA have agreed (ESA-EDA Project Arrangement, signed by
Mme Vaissiere and Mme Arnould on 15 December 2011):
The tender procedure and contract will be according to ESA rules
The total contract price is 1.2 M€ maximum, co-funded by ESA and EDA
EDA and ESA will each nominate participants for the Tender Evaluation Board
An ESA-EDA Joint Team will supervise and manage the activity, including review and process of the deliverables

16. UASatCom – UAS for Exploration and Monitoring Services: ARTES 20 Feasibility Study
Currently manned aircraft are used to perform mineral/gas/oil exploration surveys and for monitoring oil & gas pipelines
The companies performing this work and their customers are in need for services that are
Safer – to not risk the lives of the crews
Cheaper – it is a low-margin business
Better – by flying closer to the ground
UASatCom project key objectives:
Investigate how small UAS supported by satellites can be used to provide the services
Take the first steps to close existing gaps
Build a business model
Investigate legal & regulatory issues
Team: Barnard Microsystems, Inmarsat, AnsuR
Price: 180 k€, 50% funded
Status: on-going (Project kick-off: June 2011)
Aircraft equipped with sensors as used today for geo-surveys
Result from gemoagnetic survey

17. SADA (Space Assets for Demining Assistance) UAV’s for demining: ARTES 20 Feasibility Study
% of suspected minefields proves in hindsight to be uncontaminated -> staggered approach needed
Target with priority those minefields that are most threatening and costly to society. Based on EO.
Avoid the unnecessary deployment of clearance activities in non-contaminated areas. UAV’s amend EO information on indicators of absence and presence of mines
Reduce the cost of detection and clearance per unit of land area (by planning, mapping). UAV’s support field observations, by providing detailed maps of the former battle field that help plan field activities.
Risk index
Team: RadioLabs (I), University of Rome Sapienza (I), MEEO (I), Aurensis (E), GTD (E), VUB (B)
Price: 400 k€, 100% funded
Status: on-going (FR: April 2012)

18. BIOSCOPE (Vegetation Monitoring Service): ARTES 20 Feasibility Study
Farmers need timely information on the status of their crops to plan field operations
Need to develop a service which can reliably deliver images on the status of the vegetation within a short time window (3 to 10 days to 3 weeks) , and upon short notice (1 to 6 weeks)
Thanks to remote sensing farmers can map the spatial variability of the crop status and perform precision farming
However, due to the cloud cover and required timing for image acquisition the use of space imagery must be complemented by UAVs
Team: Terrasphere (NL), Aerovision (NL), Aurea Imaging (BE), CRP Lippmann (LUX)
Price: 180 k€, 50% co-funded
Status: on-going (Project kick-off: June 2011)

19. ARTES 1 – UAS C2 system study – Background and objectives
Scope of work defined in coordination with Eurocontrol, EDA and EASA, taking into account ARTES10 (Iris) activities
Main objective: Define and analyse a satellite system for UAS BLOS C2
Develop architectures and provide a preliminary design based on a new or modified satellite communication system
Asses service provisioning models
Indicating remaining issues for WRC2012
Provide roadmap for future developments
Scope of ESA
Iris programme
Scope of
UAS C2 system Study
Team: TAS (F), Thales-AV (F), TRIAGNOSYS (D), HONEYWELL (CZ), TAS (I)
Status: on-going (project kick-off:14/07)
Price: 250 k€, 100% funded

20. ARTES 5.1 – High speed UAV Satcom terminal
Background: Future payload sensors for UAV will require significantly higher bit-rates
For example multiple high definition cameras, each producing bit-streams of hundreds of Mbps
E.g. “Gorgon Stare” multiple camera’s looking at multiple scenes simultaneously Σ 100 Mpixels frames/sec
Currently there are no European providers for high-speed satcom terminals suitable for UAVs
Mass and power important limitations
Proposal for ARTES 5.1 (1000 k€):
Development of a high-speed (512 Mbps) UAV satcom terminal
Status:
Consultation ongoing with industry about interest and to refine the scope of the activity

21. Workshop invitation
Please be invited to attend the 3rd User/Stakeholder Workshop on UAS
organized by EDA and ESA on March 8th 2012, at the ESA Redu Centre (Redu,
Belgium)
Main objectives: to inform and consult ESA and EDA Member States as well as UAS
stakeholders (users, industries, authorities) about:
ESA-EDA cooperation on UAS: strategic aspects
ESA and EDA activities on UAS
UAS applications scenarios
Regulatory aspects