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

UAS ROADMAP 2005
ensure safe small UA operation in support of civil operations or in support of a combined arms task
force.
� Affordability. Affordability cannot be ignored. Just as technology might determine whether a system
is practical, affordability determines whether a system is purchased. Lower costs for UA can
determine the operational employment concepts. For example, if the cost to replace a UA is low
enough, an item can become “attritable,” and even “expendable.” Small UA can benefit significantly
from appropriate application of the technology as it relates to production costs.
� Sensing. Sensing covers a significant set of issues from ISR to auto-target recognition to “see and
avoid (S&A).” Improvements in miniaturization will push capability into smaller and smaller
packages as time progresses. Already the capability available in a MQ-1Predator of ten years ago is
available in the Shadow 200. This will continue with the potential for greater capabilities to migrate
into the mini-UA and MAV. Such a transition must continue to be supported in order to improve
product quality to the lowest levels. Affordability of this migration will also be important and tied to
capabilities available in the commercial sector.
Ground Station Command, Control, and Communications (C3)
As the capabilities of the UA continue to improve; the capability of the command and control (C2)
infrastructure needs to keep pace. There are several key aspects of the off-board C2 infrastructure that are
being addressed: a) man-machine interfaces, b) multi-aircraft C3, and c) target identification, weapons
allocation and weapons release. The location of the C3 system can be on the ground, aboard ship, or
airborne. The functions to be accomplished are independent of the location. UA hold the promise of
reduced operating and support (O&S) costs compared to manned aircraft. There are only small savings
by simply moving the man from the cockpit of a large aircraft to the off board C3 station. Currently, UA
crews can consist of as many functions as sensor system operator, weapons release authority,
communications officer, and a mission commander. All can be separate individuals. Applications to
reduce these functional manpower positions into fewer positions are in its infancy. Improvements in
aircraft autonomy to allow for fewer positions, or more aircraft controlled by the same positions are also
in its infancy. One of the difficult issues being addressed is how the operator interacts with the aircraft:
what information is presented to him during normal operations and what additional information is
presented if an emergency occurs. Advanced interfaces are being explored in the DARPA UCAV
programs. To date, the C3 stations being developed are aimed more at the test environment than the
operational environment. The advanced interfaces take advantage of force feedback and aural cues to
provide additional situational awareness to the system operators. Improvements should focus in the
following areas:
� Evolving functions of the UA. The UA must improve to higher levels of autonomy and the human to
higher levels of management. This would migrate operational responsibility for tasks from the
ground station to the aircraft, the aircraft gaining greater autonomy and authority, the humans moving
from operators to supervisors, increasing their span of control while decreasing the manpower
requirements to operate the UA.
� Downsizing ground equipment. The control elements and functions of the early 1990s ground station
equipment can now be accommodated into laptops. This trend will continue with miniaturization of
processing and memory storage devices. Consolidation of capabilities into smaller packages reduces
production costs, logistics footprint and sustainment support costs.
� Assured communication. The joint tactical radio system is expanding to encompass not only voice
communications, but data links also. UA programs must assess their transition to the JTRS standard
as technology becomes available through JTRS Cluster improvements. Since UA will become netcentric
devices, UA programs must assess their vulnerabilities to network attack and provide
appropriate levels of protection.
� Displays. As the human interfaces with the UA at higher levels, the human must trust the UA to do
more. To develop and keep that trust, the human must be able to determine the intent of the UA.
APPENDIX D – TECHNOLOGIES
Page D-8