Design of UAV Systems Control stations c 2003 LM Corporation 10-1 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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Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 2003 LM Corporation 10-1
Lesson objective - to discuss
Control stationsincluding …
• 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
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 2003 LM Corporation 10-2
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
10-3
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 2003 LM Corporation
Control Functions
Mission Planning
Mission and Payload Management Information Processing and Dissemination
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
• 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
10-19
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 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
10-20
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 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
10-21
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 2003 LM Corporation
• 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
Considerations - cont’d
10-22
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 2003 LM Corporation
• 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
Considerations - cont’d
10-23
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 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
• 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)
10-25
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 2003 LM Corporation
Lesson objective - to discuss
Control stationsincluding …
• Functions• Approaches• Sizing• Example problem
Next subject
10-26
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 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
• 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 Kft27.4 Kft 27.4 Kft
212 nm
10-27
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 2003 LM Corporation
• 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
Considerations
10-28
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 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 Kft27.4 Kft 27.4 Kft
212 nm
10-29
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 2003 LM Corporation
• 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)]
Updated requirements
C3I = C2I + Communications
10-30
Design of UAV Systems
Control stationsc 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.