1. Control stations Design of UAV Systems Lesson objective - to discuss
c 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
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2. UAV systems cannot operate without control stations
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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3. Control Functions Design of UAV Systems Launch and Recovery
Control stations
c LM Corporation
Control Functions
Mission Planning
Mission and Payload Management
Information Processing
and Dissemination
Launch and Recovery
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4. UAV Tactical Control System (TCS) Definitions
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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 -
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5. Design of UAV Systems Levels of autonomy Direct control
Control stations
c LM Corporation
Levels of autonomy
Direct control
Flight path control
Supervised control
Fully autonomous
UAV Annual Report FY 1997 DarkStar
Control stick
d/dt,dh/dt
and dV/dt
Attack return etc.
…or Navigation Control
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6. Span of control Design of UAV Systems Multi-System System Unique
Control stations
c LM Corporation
Span of control
System Unique
Multi-System
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7. Design of UAV Systems Control Location Ground Rear Area Sea Forward
Control stations
c LM Corporation
Control Location
Ground
Rear Area
Forward
Area
Sea
Air
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
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8. Global Hawk example Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
Global Hawk example
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9. Global Hawk MCE Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
Global Hawk MCE
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10. Global Hawk LRE Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
Global Hawk LRE
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11. Pioneer GCS Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
Pioneer GCS
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12. Source http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/daro/predator/toc.html
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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13. Pointer GCS Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
Pointer GCS
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14. UCAV control (status) Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
UCAV control (status)
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15. Another common GCS Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
Another common GCS
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16. And another Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
And another
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17. Mission control issues
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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)
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18. Selection considerations
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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19. Considerations - cont’d
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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20. Considerations - cont’d
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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21. Considerations - cont’d
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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22. Considerations - cont’d
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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23. Little public control station information is available
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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24. Size and cost Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c LM Corporation
Size and cost
Nominally each operator station in an enclosure requires about cuft at about 12 lbs/ft^3
There is very little publicly available control station cost information; Global Hawk $45M (including comms), $6.8M (excluding comms)
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25. Control stations Next subject Design of UAV Systems
c LM Corporation
Next subject
Lesson objective - to discuss
Control stations
including …
Functions
Approaches
Sizing
Example problem
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26. WAS range required (95km) not a challenge
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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27. Command and control approach
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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28. Low work load activity – basically a monitoring task
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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
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29. Design of UAV Systems Updated requirements Control Station element
Control stations
c 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
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30. (1) Determine control station locations
Design of UAV Systems
Control stations
c 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 to Egbert by COB next Thursday. Document all calculations.
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31. Intermission Design of UAV Systems Control stations
c LM Corporation
Intermission
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