TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 205, Aviation Training Systems

OBJECTIVE: Create innovative, common unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) training that adequately emulates the major components of all UAV systems operated by the Navy and naval elements of special teams.

DESCRIPTION: Training exercises ensure that troops deployed to support Naval Unmanned Aviation are capable of executing the mission in every aspect. The Navy is undergoing a transformation in how products are procured resulting in a return to the Navy as the prime integrator of major systems with the prime doing the manufacturing and delivery of the product. To date though, many stove pipe UAV control stations have been produced. Each stove pipe system requires unique training to be done on unique hardware. This is very costly and removes actual fielded systems from service to conduct training. An innovative, open architecture training system that would allow training for multiple Unmanned Vehicles from a single system such as Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is needed to reduce costs and logistics, provide platform portability, and provide an easily modifiable trainer. The architecture should allow an easy upgrade path to add unmanned vehicles or capabilities.

The system must be cross platform compatible (Windows and Linux) and provide Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586 (this standard establishes a common protocol to facilitate the interoperability of various, heterogeneous vehicles from a common control station and is an effective standard for both military and emerging commercial unmanned vehicle applications) and Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems protocol for data communications.

PHASE I: Demonstrate the technical feasibility of designing and demonstrating an innovative, common open control station software suite and define its key elements.

PHASE II: Develop a prototype software training environment that covers the Tier 1-3 fixed-wing vehicles. The prototype should operate in the same fashion as the proposed control stations except that it will operate on either Linux or Windows systems, and will use simulation grade hardware devices (hand controllers, payload control and displays, etc). Develop a vehicle specific module (software adapter for each vehicle type). Aircraft Interface Control Document (ICD) data will be provided by the Government.

PHASE III: Transition the packaged system onto a Windows-based operating system hardware set.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The proposed work will result in development of a powerful technology that will be effective and efficient in providing training methods for a wide range of coming commercial UAVs such as law enforcement and homeland security.

REFERENCES:
1. U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2010). Report to the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives. Unmanned aircraft systems comprehensive planning and a results-oriented training strategy are needed to support growing inventories (GAO Publication 10-331). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

2. Zachary, W., Campbell, G. E., Laughery, K. R., Glenn, F. & Cannon-Bowers, J. A. (2001). The Application of Human Modeling Technology to the Design, Evaluation, and Operation of Complex Systems. in E. Salas (Ed.), Advances In Human Performance and Cognitive Engineering Research (Vol. 1), Oxford, UK: Elsevier Science. pp. 201 – 250.

KEYWORDS: Common; Open Architecture; Source Code; Unmanned Air Vehicle; Training; Control Station

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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