Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030 - Federation of ...

UAS ROADMAP 2005
should be encouraged to initiate (continue) digital video sensor demonstration efforts with the objective of
having all motion video sensors (new, replaced or repaired) produce progressive scan, digital video and
standards compliant metadata. A limited operational capability is desired by as soon as possible.
Focal plane array and stabilization technologies. Small and micro UA place a premium on high
performance components that make as little demand as possible on power, weight and volume. The
commercial market for focal plane arrays in consumer goods has increased vastly over the last three
years; the top-of-the-line digital cameras only recently reached the megapixel mark, and now stores
routinely offer 5 megapixel cameras as well as handheld high definition digital video recorders.
While commercial products may emphasize only some of the spectral bands of interest for military
applications, the trend toward more capable systems requiring less battery power and fitting into handheld
cameras can only benefit DoD. The Services should expect vendors to capitalize on this trend and work
to insure that military needs (such as infrared sensitivity, environmental tolerance, and ruggedness) are
represented wherever possible.
Digitally based (single conversion on the array) technology significantly improves the quality of the
information in the data chain, eliminating image degradation from repeated analog-digital-analog
conversions. For this reason, multispectral versions of digital focal arrays are critical. Additionally,
common focal arrays between sensors/platforms are desirable. Service (labs) should be encouraged to
initiate digital multispectral still/video focal array programs with the goal of demonstrating a Predatorclass
high resolution digital IR system within the next few years.
As with high resolution motion video and timely and complete metadata, image stabilization is critical to
obtaining usable information. Technology improvements in stabilization technology (electromechanical
and electromagnetic) permit nominal sensor mounting systems to achieve stabilization accuracies in the
tens of micro radians. Similarly, high end stabilization systems are capable of stabilization accuracies on
the order of two micro radians, providing virtually a metric sensor capability (ability to generate precision
geo-coordinates from sensor measurements when coupled with accurate High Resolution Terrain
Information, taken from pre-populated databases or derived from on-board sources such as a LIDAR);
however, both classes of stabilization systems are too costly to employ on lower end UA platforms (sub-
Shadow class, such as XPV-1, Raven), which tend to be somewhat unstable platforms for strapdown
sensors. To compensate for the lack of low cost, mechanically stabilized sensor mounts, digitally based
(non-mechanical) stabilization systems have been demonstrated with limited operational success, due to
human factors constraints. To fully exploit the new generation of imaging systems on the rapidly
proliferating class of small/low cost platforms, specific efforts resulting in the development of a low cost,
steerable (turret) sensor stabilization system for small and sub-tactical class platforms is highly desired by
the Department.
Flexible conformal antennas. There are numerous commercial and government programs to develop
affordable conformal SAR antennas for use on a variety of aircraft. Their eventual availability will allow
UA to more effectively use onboard payload space; currently, a SAR antenna (mechanically-steered
antenna (MSA) or electronically-steered antenna (ESA)) may be the core parameter around which the rest
of the aircraft, manned or unmanned, is designed. Conformal antennas will allow larger apertures using
the aircraft’s skin. Agile antennas will be able to perform more than one function, so a single antenna
(covering a large portion of the aircraft’s exterior) can serve the data link needs as well as acting as
imaging radar. On larger aircraft like Global Hawk or MQ-9 Predator, conformal antennas mounted near
the wingtips will enable single pass interferometric SAR data collection, leading to swift production of
precise digital terrain maps.
Sensor autonomy/self cueing. One of the key attributes that some UA offer is very long endurance, much
longer than is practical for manned aircraft. While it may be possible to maintain 24-hour battlefield
surveillance with a single aircraft, the system will only reach its full potential when it is doing part of the
work of the intelligence processing facility to alleviate manpower needs. A number of image/signal
APPENDIX B – SENSORS
Page B-7