Comprehensive Magnetic Noise Suppression Methods for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Navy SBIR FY2012.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.1 Topic No.: N121-006 Topic Title: Comprehensive Magnetic Noise Suppression Methods for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Proposal No.: N121-006-1291 Firm: Sky Research, Inc 445 Dead Indian Memorial Rd Ashland, Oregon 97520 Contact: Gregory Schultz Phone: (603) 643-5151 Web Site: www.skyresearch.com Abstract: To support the Navy's requirements for low-noise magnetic sensing from small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), we present effective methods for suppressing platform and external interferences. We propose to develop a comprehensive magnetic compensation system that heavily leverages a number of innovations, experience, and on-going work by our team. Our approach combines thorough characterizations of candidate Tier I and/or Tier II UAVs with full-spectrum noise cancellation algorithms and miniaturized sensor and electronics amenable to future installation on in-service unmanned Navy assets. The resulting technology will maximize the potential use of advanced implementations of digital filtering and compensation software fed by new chip-scale vector magnetic sensors. Benefits: Anticipated Benefits The proposed technology will build on designs for existing commercial automatic aeromagnetic compensation hardware and software by tailoring noise reduction methods for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). . Specifically, our approach enables mitigation of both static and dynamic noise such as those derived from components on the UAV platform and those related to atmospheric, geologic, and oceanic sources. A key aspect of our design is based on the use of miniaturized chip-scale reference magnetic sensors and ultra-compact digital electronics. Additionally, we propose tight integration of compensation hardware and software with existing UAV navigation and control systems enabling cross-utilization of noise characterization and correction signals. This modular approach has wide applicability for small UAVs intended for defense or security-related reconnaissance and surveillance. Potential Commercial Applications The need for small UAV noise suppression technology is recognized by the Navy for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) applicaitons, but has applications in many other application areas and market segments as well. These include Air Force and Joint Special Operations tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition; homeland and border security; counter-underground facilities; mine counter-measures and related munitions detection; and commercial geophysical mapping. There are two components of this project with strong commercialization potential. The first concerns the integrated magnetic noise reduction software and hardware system, which has potential uses in the multiple application areas described above. The second is the unique integrated sensing system utilizing very high sensitivity chip-scale atomic magnetometers and ultra-compact digital electronics amenable to integration on small unmanned platforms. Return