The Guardian Unmanned Aircraft System

Overview

            This request for proposal is to develop an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capable of executing safe transportation and delivery of medical equipment to first responders in areas affected by a natural disaster. This particular UAS will need to be capable of getting into and out of small areas where a fixed wing type of aircraft is not a plausible solution. For purposes such as this, a helicopter type design is the most suitable design and will be the one that is implemented.  The UAS will be named The Guardian and will be composed of a network of UAS and ground control stations (GCS).

Derived Requirements

1.    Air vehicle requirment

1.1.   Shall be capable of hover flight

1.2.   Shall be capable of flight up to 500 feet altitude above ground level (AGL)

1.3.   Shall be capable of sustained flight (at loiter speed) in excess of one hour

1.4.   Shall be capable of covering an operational radius of one mile

1.5.   Shall be deployable and on station (i.e., in air over mission area) in less than 15 minutes

1.6.   Shall be capable of manual and autonomous operation

1.7.   Shall provide capture of telemetry, including altitude, magnetic heading, latitude/longitude position, and orientation (i.e., pitch, roll, and yaw)

1.8.  Shall provide power to payload, telemetry sensors, and data-link

1.9.   Shall provide capability to orbit (i.e., fly in circular pattern around) or hover over an object of interest

1.10.                 Shall be capable of  carrying at a minimum 50 pounds (lbs)

2.    Payload

2.1. Shall be capable of color daytime video operation up to 500 feet AGL

2.2. Shall be capable of infrared (IR) video operation up to 500 feet AGL

2.3. Shall be interoperable with C2 and data-link

2.4. Shall use power provided by air vehicle element

3.    Cost

3.1 Shall cost less than $150,000(Equipment cost only)

Test Requirements

1.    Air vehicle requirement

1.1            Test air vehicle for hover capability

1.2            Test air vehicle for altitude capability

1.3            Test air vehicle for sustained flight capability

1.4            Test air vehicle for operational radius capability

1.5            Test air vehicle for deploy capability

1.6            Test air vehicle for manual operation

1.7            Test air vehicle for autonomous operation

1.8            Test air vehicle for accurate telemetry

1.9            Test air vehicle for power consumption of onboard payload, telemetry sensors, and data-link

1.10         Test air vehicle for capability to orbit around a point of interest

1.11         Test air vehicle for capability to carry 50 pounds (lbs)

2.    Payload

2.1            Test air vehicle payload ensuring color video in daytime operations is capable at 500 feet AGL

2.2            Test air vehicle payload ensuring infrared (IR) video is capable at 500 feet AGL

2.3            Test C2 and Data-link ensuring that the links are interoperable of each other

2.4            Test power consumption of payloads and verify the air vehicle has enough power to utilize all payloads simultaneously

3.    Cost

3.1            Test the ability to build an air vehicle with required equipment under a budget of $150,000

Development Process

The chosen methodology for implementation is the waterfall model of development. This 6 stage model will help to ensure continuity in system development and implementation. The primary reason for choosing the waterfall model is due to its simplicity and because in order to move to the next stage of development the preceding stage must be completed("What is Waterfall model- advantages, disadvantages and when to use it?", n.d.). This model helps us in our short term project of 12 months, from requirement gathering through deployment of system.

Derived requirements

Many of the derived requirements extend from the need for vertical replenishment (VERTREP). Just like manned helicopters do, the ability to vertically replenish medical supplies is crucial to those first responders on the ground. In instances where a person may travel but not a vehicle, having this capacity to deliver medical supplies to someone who can assist the sick and injured is beneficial. The additional requirements that this air vehicle require are because of the rapid response needed, the need to get to smaller regions not accessible by fixed wing aircraft, unsafe operations for larger helicopters, and the need to carry essential medical supplies.

In regards to payload requirements, the ability to detect people at day and night is crucial to the success of assisting others. Because natural disaster recovery needs to be an ongoing effort, the need for these types of payloads is inevitable.

Need for a UCS

 One system that should be examined is utilizing a UAS control segment (UCS). Having this capacity will ensure that C2 and data-link and interoperable. Using a UCS takes into consideration legacy frameworks that can be adjusted for utilization with regular control stations by opening up their abilities and coordinating them with open UCS interfaces, making existing frameworks interoperable as well as promptly upgradable (Lundquist, 2015, pp. 38-39).

Software

Software that will be utilized by The Guardian will be from Neya Systems. Neya systems has created a vertical takeoff and landing evacuation and resupply tactical interface (VERTI),this in conjunction with a medic interface and the UxFleet/Collaborative mission Planning system will allow for rapid integration and testing (Lundquist, 2015, pp. 38-39). Utilizing UxFleet, coordination of multiple UAS platforms is possible by one person. In addition to having the flexibility of having multiple UAS assets, coordination can also be done with other unmanned systems (Batavia, 2015). According to the President of Neya systems, Parag Batavia (2015):

UxFleet moves away from traditional “functional” user interfaces, which focus on direct control of specific payloads, platforms, and sensors. Instead, UxFleet presents a context-aware, mission-specific interface that walks the user through the steps required for a particular mission, while allowing him to make changes to critical parameters as the tactical situation changes in real time (“Making Unmanned Search and Rescue a Reality: Neya’s VERTI Handheld Used for Collaborative Casualty Evacuation”, para.5).

Final Results

Overall this system should be effective in assisting those most in need of medical attention. The ability to collaborate multiple platforms will increase efficiency and will allow for a rapid response time in the wake of a natural disaster. The chosen model of development in conjunction with the chosen software developer will decrease hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HIL-SIM) that normally take weeks to just days (Lundquist, 2015, pp. 38-39). The end result would be having first responders, such as those from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), have a tablet GCS that could operate a fleet of Guardians assisting in the efforts of disaster recovery.

References

Batavia, P. (2015, April 30). Making Unmanned Search and Rescue a Reality: Neya’s VERTI Handheld Used for Collaborative Casualty Evacuation. Retrieved September 30, 2015, from http://neyasystems.com/43015-making-unmanned-search-and-rescue-a-reality-neyas-verti-handheld-used-for-collaborative-casualty-evacuation/

Lundquist, E. (2015, September). Under control: UCS architecture enables collaboration between big and small Business. Unmanned Systems, 39(9), 38-39.

What is Waterfall model- advantages, disadvantages and when to use it? (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2015, from http://istqbexamcertification.com/what-is-waterfall-model-advantages-disadvantages-and-when-to-use-it/