Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance - Spawar

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INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE
(Figure 7). This unit is equipped with a GPS waypoint navigation package
and controlled by the Multiple-robot Operator Control Unit
(MOCU), both developed at SSC San Diego. In February 2003, this technology
was transitioned to INEEL in exchange for its OD/OA software.
One of the first applications for this combined package running on the
ATRV will be in support of the upcoming Advanced Robotic Behavior
Technology (ARBT) Science and Technology Objective (STO) demonstration
in November 2003.
Organic Air Vehicle Mission System
The main project goal is to develop a system that allows a UAV to be
launched, recovered, and refueled by a host platform in order to provide
force extension through autonomous aerial response. Some of the nearterm
UAV missions include reconnaissance, radio frequency (RF) communications
relays, overhead visual GPS augmentation, surveillance,
psychological operations, and mine detection. Future uses include target
designation and payload dispersal (i.e., submunitions). Other benefits are
seen in the mission flexibility that allows the UAV to be launched from
one type of system and recovered by another (e.g., launch from an
unmanned surface vehicle and recovered by a UGV). Another benefit is
the reduction in time and personnel required to refuel a UAV during
mission operations, which thus increases the number of missions a UAV
can complete in a given period of time.
SSC San Diego has worked closely with Allied Aerospace, Inc., to develop
an initial feasibility demonstration system. A prototype launch fixture
was mounted on the MDARS-E vehicle and tested with Allied’s 29-inch
iSTAR organic air vehicle (OAV) in March 2002 (Figure 8). Design and
initial integration of the recover mechanism has been completed, awaiting
the integration with MOCU for recovery control. Engineers at SSC San
Diego will expand on and prototype the initial design and model of the
refueling system developed by mechanical engineering students at the
University of California, San Diego.
Projected users include the Cooperative Unmanned Ground Attack
Robot (COUGAR) program, the DARPA Perception for Off-road
Robots (PerceptOR) program, Naval Special Warfare Group 3, and the
Counter Mine Science and Technology Objective (CM STO).
Opportunities for collaboration with other government agencies and
publication of lessons learned and design processes will also be pursued
as part of this project.
FIGURE 7. Exterior transition platform,
iRobot ATRV.
FIGURE 8. MDARS-E vehicle with launch
fixture for the 29-inch iStar OAV.